Characteristics and cleaning methods of dust deposition on solar photovoltaic modules-A review

Carbon neutrality has become a global consensus for green development, and solar photovoltaic power generation has increasingly become one of the key technologies for carbon reduction. Large-scale photovoltaic power plants are often built in arid and sandy areas, which carry a large number of dust particles in the air. Dust deposition on photovoltaic modules has a significant impact on the transmittance, temperature, and roughness of photovoltaic modules, reducing their power generation efficiency and service life. The paper has the following structure: i) relevant research all over the world; ii) the mechanism of dust deposition and the influencing factors on photovoltaic modules; and, iii) some current methods of cleaning are summarized, and the mechanism of self-cleaning coatings for dust deposition prevention. It is found that the process of dust deposition is accomplished dynamically and repeatedly under the joint action of several forces. And the diameter of the particle, the installation angle of photovoltaic modules and wind speed have a great influence on the behavior of dust deposition. Self-cleaning coatings have an obvious effect on the prevention of dust deposition. The paper also looks forward to future research methods of particle deposition and cleaning on photovoltaic modules.