The photo is sourced from lifeglobe.net
For six months the researchers were monitoring the performance of 300 W photovoltaic plant located in the vicinity of Ben Guerir city in the South of Morocco using the sensors to register the change in electricity parameters at the change of weather. The monitoring showed: with the wind velocity from 1 to 5.8 metres per sec the surface temperature may drop in the range of 1.12 – 14.48 °C, while the output capacity increment varies in the range of 0.12% – 7.18%, and the input-output ratio increment – in the range of 0.04% – 6.45%. Moreover, the wind direction also influences the performance of the plant: the wind blowing into the front surface of the solar panel cools it more than the wind blowing in the opposite direction.
The results of this study may be instrumental for the companies planning to place solar parks in the deserts to capture the high solar radiation benefits, but concerned about potential overheating of the photovoltaic elements.
Another problem for such solar parks is the sand getting onto the surface of the cells. To mitigate this risk, the MIT researchers developed a non-contact method of cleaning solar generators based on the electrostatic repulsion effect. The conductor under the photovoltaic panel generates electromagnetic field attracting sand particles; in its turn, the opposite side of the solar generator surface repels the particles, which go up in the air and settle on the conductor. This method allows for avoiding the micro-damages of solar panels appearing when using brushes and at the same time it does not require water, which is not readily available in the droughty regions.
