Title:	Three Year Field Performance of Anti-Soiling Coatings at Multiple Locations
Author(s):	B. Brophy, K. Schexnaydre
Keywords:	Environmental Effect, Optical Properties, PV Module
Topic:	Operation, Performance, Reliability and Sustainability of Photovoltaics
Subtopic:	Operation of PV Systems
Event:	32nd European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition
Session:	5BV.2.25
Pages:	1948 - 1951
ISBN:	3-936338-41-8
Paper DOI:	10.4229/EUPVSEC20162016-5BV.2.25
Price:	0,00 EUR
Document(s):	paper, poster

Abstract/Summary:

---

As solar panels are being deployed at GW scales across diverse climatic regions, and as the solar industry must increasingly compete on a leveled cost of energy (LCOE) basis, the effects and cost of soiling on panel output is becoming more acute. Numerous studies have investigated soiling losses in different locations and under different climatic conditions. Studies of various anti-soiling coatings have shown that coatings can exhibit an anti-soiling effect in many locations and applications. However, the data reported typically covers only a single season or just part of a year. Additionally, it is likely that local effects play a significant role in soiling factors, but the data may lack sufficient geographic coverage to resolve such local effects. Here, we present an analysis of 3 years of field data collected at 10 locations throughout the Southwestern United States comparing the performance of a durable hydrophobic antireflective coating to uncoated PV glass. We report on soiling rates over the study period. We conclude that hydrophobic coatings have a significant anti-soiling effect at most arid sites in relation to the performance of the uncoated glass controls.