Innovative design and field performance evaluation of a desert-adapted PV module for enhanced solar energy harvesting and reliability in harsh arid environments

The aim of this study is to present and evaluate the performance of a novel photovoltaic (PV) module configuration introduced as the “Desert Module,” developed to enhance the production and efficiency of PV power plants operating in harsh desert locations. This innovative module has been constructed by incorporating various technological solutions to address desert climate conditions such as high temperatures, soiling, and intense UV radiation. To assess the performance of the developed “Desert Module,” a comprehensive evaluation was conducted by comparing its performance to that of a conventional module. The study encompasses three main aspects: (i) indoor characterization, including flash and electroluminescence tests; (ii) performance assessment in a hot semi-arid climate over an eight-month period; and (iii) economic analysis to benchmark the costs of electricity produced from the proposed configuration against conventional alternatives. The results indicate that the Desert Module outperforms the conventional module across all performance metrics, enhancing the average efficiency by 0.5%. In addition, the performance ratio for the Desert Module stands at 0.87, surpassing the 0.82 achieved by the conventional module. Throughout the experiment, the average energy yield was enhanced by 5.8% and the conversion efficiency by 1.95%. Notably, during the hottest period (between July and August), the deviations on the energy yield and the conversion efficiency exceed 7% and 3%, respectively, in favor of the Desert Module, highlighting its resilience to the high temperatures characterizing desert locations. Furthermore, the Desert Module demonstrates a 4.44% reduction in the levelized cost of electricity compared to the conventional module, positioning it as a more economically viable option for large-scale energy generation in desert environments.