Optical simulation of the soil effect on solar photovoltaic systems for low buildings

The performance of photovoltaic (PV) systems can be significantly impacted by various factors such as increasing cell temperatures, soiling, and mismatch losses due to dust accumulation. A recent study delved into the effects of PV soiling rates of 0.2%, 0.4%, and 0.7% on system efficiency, revealing crucial insights. In the Iraqi climate, characterized by high summer temperatures and frequent dust storms, the total PV power production dwindles from 199.5 MWh at a 2% soiling rate to 189.6 MWh at a 7% soiling rate, leading to a reduction in the performance ratio (PR) from 72.1 to 68.5%. Consequently, additional costs are incurred to implement cleaning solutions or expand the number of PV modules to offset power losses and enhance system performance.