Quantifying the anti-soiling benefits of anti-reflective coatings on first solar cadmium telluride PV modules

Anti-reflective coatings (ARC) are commonly used within the solar industry as a means to increase overall photovoltaic (PV) module efficiency. A PV module with ARC will increase light absorption, allowing for enhanced performance when compared to PV modules without ARC. Beyond increasing module efficiency by increasing overall light absorption, ARC modules can provide additional benefits due to environmental interactions when compared to non-ARC modules. A common environmental consideration for utility-scale plant performance is the impact of soiling accumulation on plant performance. With the widespread adoption of ARC modules comes an opportunity to understand and quantify the impact of soiling on both ARC and non-ARC PV Modules during a field deployment. In this study we show how soil accumulation and soiling rates vary between both ARC and non-ARC First Solar CdTe PV modules in various climatic regions in North and South America. Results suggest that First Solar ARC CdTe modules can provide up to a 60 percent anti-soiling accumulation rate reduction benefit throughout the year when compared to First Solar non-ARC CdTe modules.