Effects of Soiling over PV modules performance: a case study in Santo André - São Paulo - Brazil
The use of renewable energy sources, in addition to enabling greater diversification in the energy matrix, favors the dissemination and establishment of distributed generation in the country. Among the alternatives for a sustainable and clean energy production, photovoltaic solar generation stands out for being a source of direct conversion of solar energy into electrical energy, non-polluting, silent, efficient and not harmful to the environment. Aspects such as the climate and the environmental and local characteristics of each region, result in specific impacts on photovoltaic generation. The accumulation of dirt and other environmental contaminants in the photovoltaic modules, classified as "soiling", results in a decrease in the solar irradiance that reaches the semiconductor junctions of the module and therefore reduces the generation of electrical energy. In this context, it is relevant to study the impact of this factor on the performance of photovoltaic systems installed in different regions, so that it is possible to determine the need for periodic cleaning maintenance through a schedule that takes into account the cost and benefit of this action on the final product, which is electricity. Therefore, this research work will seek to analyze the effects of the accumulation of dirt on the surface of the modules on the performance of PV systems, in a project located in the municipality of Santo André, São Paulo - Brazil, determining the average rate of performance loss in the generation of electrical energy per unit of time due to this factor, using the inverter generation data and IxV curves measured in the field, in a method of comparison between dirty and clean references.