Researchers in Morocco investigated the consequences of an anti-reflective coating on photo voltaic panel efficiency beneath desert situations and located that it improved the annual efficiency ratio and the vitality yield by 2% and 5.5%. , respectively. They additionally discovered it to be sturdy and immune to dry cleansing strategies beneath accelerated testing.
Researchers led by scientists from Mohammed First University in Morocco investigated using photo voltaic panels with an anti-reflective coating on the Green Energy Park, a Benguerir-based check facility positioned on a website with favorable photo voltaic irradiance that reaches 2,239 kWh/m2/yr. however a harsh local weather, with excessive temperatures, low precipitation, and excessive aerosol ranges.
The experiment concerned putting two industrial modules aspect by aspect, one with anti-reflective (AR) coating and the opposite with out.
“This is the primary research to comprehensively consider {the electrical}, optical, sturdiness, and financial elements of AR coatings concurrently and beneath actual, harsh out of doors situations,” mentioned Ahmed Alami Merrouni, corresponding creator of the analysis. . pv journalwhich added that the “sudden however important consequence” was the “important discount” of two.7% for the levelized price of vitality (LCOE).
The scientists assessed {the electrical} efficiency of the AR-coated PV modules over a 10-month interval, finishing up common cleansing, and weekly transmittance measurements. Using the outcomes from the sphere research, the staff calculated the affect of AR-coated modules on the monetary efficiency of a big PV plant, utilizing a 40 MW PV energy plant as a case research.
“The simulation outcomes revealed {that a} 40 MW energy plant utilizing commonplace PV panels can produce an annual electrical energy output of 69 GWh. In distinction, the same energy plant that features ARC-coated panels achieves a excessive electrical energy technology of 72 GWh, which suggests a exceptional 5.5% enchancment in comparison with typical panels,” mentioned the researchers.
“From an financial standpoint, the simulation outcomes revealed an LCOE of 0.037€/kWh for a 40 MWe energy plant utilizing non-coated PV modules. In distinction, the LCOE for a similar energy plant utilizing ARC modules quantities to 0.0368 € / kWh, which reveals a 2.7% discount in the price of electrical energy manufacturing,” they added.
Laboratory abrasion checks on AR-coated glass samples have been additionally carried out to find out the impact on the optical efficiency and sturdiness of the coating.
“Our research discovered that after 1,500 abrasion cycles, simulating 29 years of weekly cleansing, the optical properties decreased by solely 2.6%. This spectacular sturdiness opens up the potential for utilizing dry cleansing strategies for PV energy crops with this coating, considerably decreasing the price of cleansing and conserving water,” mentioned Alami Merrouni.
The AR-coated glass samples additionally confirmed “good optical efficiency in opposition to soiling”, with a soiling loss that was 3.7% decrease in comparison with non-coated samples for a similar publicity interval, in accordance with the scientists.
Since the research was carried out, the suggestions from different researchers within the area of photo voltaic vitality and Moroccan authorities organizations has been constructive, in accordance with Alami Merrouni. “The most highlighted and important consequence that attracted consideration was the sturdiness of AR coatings beneath linear abrasion checks,” he mentioned.
“This suggestions highlights the sensible advantages and potential for broad adoption of AR coating options, particularly in areas like Morocco the place, along with its excessive performances, AR coating can open the likelihood to make use of dry cleansing strategies that may make a big discount in cleansing prices and save water, which is essential for desert areas,” he concluded.
The analysis is detailed within the paper “Experimental evaluation of Anti-Reflective coating efficiency in desert local weather: Analysis of yield, impact of contamination and analysis of cleansing sturdiness,” revealed. in Sustainable vitality applied sciences and assessments.
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