Comprehensive review on effect of dust on solar photovoltaic system and mitigation techniques

Abstract The power sector has been facing the problems of the continuous increase in demand and lack of sufficient generation of electric energy using fossil fuels. The environmental problems (pollution and global warming), the continuously increasing cost of fossil fuels and the shortage of fossil fuels are mainly concerned to harvest energy from sustainable and clean sources. One of the promising sustainable energy sources is solar energy. Electrical energy can be produced from solar radiation by using the photovoltaic system. Though, power generation from PV solar system is not yet viable because of its low efficiency. Apart from low efficiency, other factors, especially environmental factors such as dust, hail, humidity and temperature and installation elements such as tilt angle, installation site, and altitude influence the performance of the PV module. This study reviews the currently available works on the subject of causes of dust deposition on the surface of the PV module, the impact of dust settlement on the electrical, optical and thermal characteristics of PV module. This paper also synthesizes current understanding of the effect of the hailstorm on the PV module and provides a prospectus for future research on this topic. A protecting system for the PV module from the hailstorm is needed to develop. The current review also summarizes the past, present studies of different types of mitigation technique so that it can be helpful in choosing the most suitable method for dust cleaning.