ANALYSIS OF THE IMPROVEMENT OF POWER GENERATION IN AN IFRO SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM AFTER PERIODIC CLEANING

Abstract

Solar energy has been widespread in the market today, both for the economic factor and for sustainability, as it is a renewable energy source that allows users to produce their energy, thus reducing the amount paid to the utility company. However, this type of energy has a lower efficiency if compared to other existing sources. Any method that maintains or increases the efficiency of photovoltaic solar generation is beneficial to the system. This includes minimizing the effects that reduce the efficiency of photovoltaic conversion. Dirt is one of these factors that have the most impact on the output of a photovoltaic power plant. And, despite its relevance, there is still no model of periodic maintenance for each region of Brazil (CARDOSO,2021). In this way the research consists of accomplishing the periodic cleaning in the system of photovoltaic generation of the Federal Institute of Science and Technology of Rondônia, taking into consideration the climate of the region and to accomplish comparison among the photovoltaic modules that were cleaned periodically and the one that was not cleaned, to verify a difference of efficiency caused by the dirtiness and to establish a maintenance plan of periodic cleaning. The results show that dirtiness degrades the system's efficiency in 1% and that for the region of Porto Velho, performing one cleaning a month in the summer and one cleaning every two months in the winter is sufficient.