Modeling soiling losses for rooftop PV systems in suburban areas with nearby forest in Madrid

Abstract

Particle deposition on the surface of modules in PV systems produces energy output losses with an impact that highly depends on the meteorological and climatic conditions. This work presents the characterization of soiling losses for a suburban forest area in Madrid focused on rooftop PV systems. The soiling loss measured in the testing system can reach around 6%/day for a tilt angle of 8° during summer. Models assessment is also presented and analyzed here using two available soiling models from the well-known pvlib package. The use of the models is not straightforward and some assumptions and recommendations are also presented in this work to produce the best predictions. The applicability of physical models to suburban areas, particularly in large cities in Europe, is remarked by the availability of air quality monitoring ground stations. These results will enhance future studies on the potential impact of soiling in European cities that will help to the distributed PV systems growth and penetration.