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- Volume 1, Issue 2 2025
By Jameel Ghaffar
10.21621/ijec.20250102.05
Keywords: The Impact of Dust on the Performance and Efficiency of Solar Panels
Dust accumulation on solar panels, commonly referred to as soiling, significantly reduces the energy conversion performance of Photo Voltaic (PV) systems. Dust deposition on the panel surface obstructs sunlight from reaching the cells, and combined with elevated panel temperatures and deterioration of glass optical properties, this results in substantial efficiency losses. Previous studies have reported efficiency reductions ranging from 5% to 40%, depending on dust characteristics, particle size, and environmental conditions. Such losses not only reduce total energy output but also cause considerable economic impact, particularly for large-scale solar power plants. To mitigate these effects, the scientific community has actively developed various cleaning strategies, including manual cleaning, Automatic Cleaning Systems (ACSs), surface coatings, and design optimizations. This study reviews these approaches and highlights their effectiveness in sustaining PV performance.