Experimental investigation of bird dropping and soiling on PV panel power output in a humid and dusty environment

Abstract

Over the past few decades, the increased use of energy resources has led to an increase in electricity demand, which has compounded a constant shortage of nonrenewable energy resources. However, dust accumulation, humidity levels, temperature, and bird droppings can negatively affect the efficiency of PV systems. Bird droppings can cause shading areas and hot spots on PV cells, gradually reducing their performance. This study aims to investigate the impact of bird droppings and soiling on photovoltaic panels by developing an experimental setup. An experimental setup comprises two PV panels with monitoring and data logging sensors. During the cleaning process, one panel will be compared with a panel affected by bird droppings and soiling. The experiment was conducted for 25 days in a dusty and humid environment, affecting approximately 30% of the PV panel area by bird droppings. As a consequence, the panel's output decreased by 35%. In order to predict when the PV panel becomes completely opaque, resulting in zero power, after the experiment has been conducted, multiple linear regression techniques have been applied that show the whole panel will cover up in 82 days with bird droppings having a covering area of 128500 mm2. The experimental investigation concluded that bird dropping and soiling can significantly impact PV panel output degradation. Regular cleaning patterns will help to ensure efficient operation and maximize electricity generation.