Title：Dust and Solar PV Soiling: The Problem and Potential Solutions

Reporter：Prof. Bing Guo (Texas A&M University at Qutar)

Site：Lecture Hall, Department of Energy and Power Engineering

Time：2018-7-12 10:00-12:00

Inviter：Prof. Hai Zhang (张海 教授)

Abstract：Dust accumulation on solar modules can significantly decrease electricity production, which is known as soiling loss. Countries in the Middle East and North Africa region have ambitious initiatives for development of solar power generation, but soiling loss poses a significant challenge to these initiatives. Active research efforts are underway to find ways to mitigate soiling loss, so as to efficiently utilize the abundant solar energy available in the region. The Qatar National Research Fund has specifically listed “development for long-lasting anti-dust solutions for solar modules” as a research area of interest. Texas A&M University at Qatar (TAMUQ) researchers have been conducting field measurements of solar module soiling, development of models for soiling prediction, and development of an electrodynamic dust shield (EDS) technology to repel dust from solar modules. This presentation will include an overview of solar photovoltaic soiling, measurement and modeling of natural dust accumulation, and mitigation technologies with a focus on EDS. Potential future research related to this problem will also be discussed, including new materials development, computational fluid dynamics simulation, manufacturing technology, electrostatics and surface sciences.