Impact of Weather on Solar Panel Efficiency

Abstract

Abstract— Photovoltaic systems are a popular form of renewable energy technology used to harness power in a sustainable manner. The effects of environmental factors such as rainfall on photovoltaic systems have been found to be quite pronounced through competing effects on irradiance attenuation and natural cleaning. This study aims to evaluate the effects of rainfall intensity on photovoltaic power output through a dynamic model of rainfall-soiling-power and experimental measurements. The study used a photovoltaic power system installed in Ramadi, Iraq. The experiment measured and monitored rainfall intensity, reference panel power, and natural panel power. The study used a mathematical model to simulate the effects of rainfall attenuation, soiling, and natural cleaning. The model simulated a dynamic model of dirt accumulation and predicted photovoltaic power output. The experiment found that light rain has a detrimental effect on photovoltaic power output through irradiance attenuation, but high rain intensity enhances power output through natural cleaning. The study found that high rain intensity, i.e., rain intensity above or equal to 15 mm, enhances power output by 9%. The model simulated power output with high accuracy and provided valuable insights on understanding photovoltaic power output behavior. The study found that rain plays a vital role in natural cleaning, thereby improving photovoltaic power output efficiency.