Characteristics, compositions, and effects of dust accumulated on PV panels in tropical agricultural area.

Dust accumulation significantly affects the performance of photovoltaic (PV) systems, particularly in tropical agricultural regions like Thailand, where rice, sugarcane, and cassava are major industries. This study analyzed dust characteristics at 11 PV power plants in agrarian areas using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The findings reveal that dust originates primarily from plant debris, soil, sand, and limestone, with particle sizes ranging from 5–15 μm. Key contributors include plant combustion (5 μm), soil tillage and harvesting (10 μm), and limestone dust (5–15 μm). Dust composition was categorized into four groups: plant-based particles (43%–89%), silica-rich dust (11%–48%), limestone particles (8%–26%), and other materials (4%–9%). Additionally, SEM analysis identified cementation effects. Accumulated dust during the dry season significantly increased optical transmission losses, emphasizing the seasonal impact. Understanding these patterns offers valuable insights for developing effective cleaning and maintenance strategies, ultimately enhancing PV system efficiency in dusty agricultural environments. An example of electricity production illustrates that a performance ratio of 0.77 was observed in PV power plant affected by various types of dust, primarily from agricultural harvest residues. In contrast, PV power plants impacted by significant levels of cassava-related and combustible particles dust achieved a higher performance ratio of 0.87 and 0.88 respectively, where cleaning and maintenance schedules were more rigorously managed.