How to detect surface dust on solar photovoltaic panels?

At present, the main methods for detecting surface dust on solar photovoltaic panels include object detection, image segmentation and instance segmentation, super-resolution image generation, multispectral and thermal infrared imaging, and deep learning methods.

How does dust affect photovoltaic power generation?

Photovoltaic (PV) power generation has become one of the key technologies to reach energy-saving and carbon reduction targets. However, dust accumulation will significantly affect the electrical, optical, and thermal performance of PV panels and cause some energy loss.

Why do photovoltaic panels have dust particles on the front surface?

The findings of the research can be summarised as follows: 1. Dust particle deposition on the front surface of the photovoltaic panel is not linearly dependent upon the duration of exposure, but it is a complex phenomenon which is influenced by all-weather parameters, among others.

Does dust accumulation affect the thermal performance of photovoltaic (PV) systems?

The impact of dust accumulation on the thermal performance of photovoltaic (PV) systems primarily manifests in the alteration of PV module temperature.

Why do PV panels have a high dust density?

The variable dust accumulation at any point on the PV surface results in a different distribution of sunlight entering the PV array, increasing the possibility of a hot spot that damages the PV panels 8. Higher dust density reduces PV short-circuit current, open-circuit voltage, and output power.

Can dust damage PV panels?

In addition to performance losses, dust accumulation may cause other damages to PV panels. Examples are surface damage due to sand erosion and permeability reduction which will contribute to additional deterioration in the performance of PV panels (Tagawa 2012).