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Economics of seasonal photovoltaic soiling and cleaning optimization scenarios

Author

Listed:
  • Micheli, Leonardo
  • Fernandez, Eduardo F.
  • Aguilera, Jorge T.
  • Almonacid, Florencia

Abstract

The present study analyzes the soiling losses of a 1 MW system installed in the South of Spain. Both the Levelized Cost of Energy and the Net Present Value are used to compare the convenience of different mitigation strategies. It is found that also PV installations located in moderate regions, where the yearly soiling losses are limited to 3%, can suffer of a severe seasonal soiling, with power drops higher than 20%. In these conditions, an optimized cleaning schedule can be considerably beneficial from an economic perspective. For the given site, an optimal cleaning schedule generates a raise in profits up to 3.6% if one yearly cleaning is performed within a ± 31-day window in summer. The convenience of one and multiple cleaning strategies is investigated by considering variable electricity prices and cleaning costs. In addition, the impact of the module efficiency on the cleaning strategy is analyzed. It is found that an optimized cleaning schedule can enhance the benefits of installing high efficiency modules, as it increases the amount of energy recovered through each cleaning and, therefore, the profits.

Suggested Citation

  • Micheli, Leonardo & Fernandez, Eduardo F. & Aguilera, Jorge T. & Almonacid, Florencia, 2020. "Economics of seasonal photovoltaic soiling and cleaning optimization scenarios," MPRA Paper 104104, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:104104
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    File URL: https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/105229/8/MPRA_paper_105229.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Cited by:

    1. Antonia Sônia A. C. Diniz & Tulio P. Duarte & Suellen A. C. Costa & Daniel Sena Braga & Vinicius Camatta Santana & Lawrence L. Kazmerski, 2022. "Soiling Spectral and Module Temperature Effects: Comparisons of Competing Operating Parameters for Four Commercial PV Module Technologies," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-18, July.
    2. Azouzoute, Alae & Zitouni, Houssain & El Ydrissi, Massaab & Hajjaj, Charaf & Garoum, Mohammed & Bennouna, El Ghali & Ghennioui, Abdellatif, 2021. "Developing a cleaning strategy for hybrid solar plants PV/CSP: Case study for semi-arid climate," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 228(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Photovoltaic; Soiling; Performance Ratio; Cleaning; Economics;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q4 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy

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