The optimum output, energy conversion efficiency, productivity, and lifetime of the solar PV cell are all significantly impacted by environmental factors as well as cell operation and maintenance, which have an impact on the cost-effectiveness of power generation.
What is solar photovoltaic (PV) generation?
Solar photovoltaic (PV) generation uses solar cells to convert sunlight into electricity, and the performance of a solar cell depends on various factors, including solar irradiance, cell temperature, and the quality of the materials used .
Do environmental and operational factors affect the performance of solar PV cells?
In this study, an investigation about recent works regarding the effect of environmental and operational factors on the performance of solar PV cell is presented. It is found that dust allocation and soiling effect are crucial, along with the humidity and temperature that largely affect the performance of PV module.
The optimum output, energy conversion efficiency, productivity, and lifetime of the solar PV cell are all significantly impacted by environmental factors as well as cell operation and maintenance, which have an impact on the cost-effectiveness of power generation.
This review examined the many environmental factors that influence solar PV performance. The individual and combined effects of several key factors must be understood and mitigated to optimize PV output: solar irradiance, temperature, cloud cover, dust and pollutants, snow cover, albedo, and extreme weather events. Some of the key findings are:
What factors affect solar panel power?
Among these factors, solar radiation level and temperature are more prominent. The solar radiation level falling on the PV panels varies depending on the location of the panel and the time intervals in a day. Therefore, solar radiation level has a direct effect on the panel power.
How do photovoltaic panels affect the environment?
Essentially, the installation of photovoltaic panels can impact surface water, heat exchange, and energy balance, leading to spatial and temporal variations in environmental effects within the photovoltaic field (Jiang et al., 2021).