Higher Yield, Less Maintenance, Data-Driven Cleaning

Photovoltaic systems are constantly exposed to environmental influences during operation. Dust, pollen, agricultural emissions, or other deposits on the module surfaces lead to so-called soiling effects and can significantly reduce the energy output of PV systems. At the same time, regular cleaning and manual inspections are time-consuming and not always economically viable.

Operators therefore need a reliable way to continuously monitor the actual degree of soiling on photovoltaic modules. Methods available to date are often maintenance-intensive or only suitable to a limited extent for long-term practical use. The »PV-SoilSens« project is therefore developing a novel, energy-autonomous, and self-regenerating sensor designed to precisely measure the soiling level of PV modules, thereby enabling cleaning tailored to actual needs. The data collected helps prevent yield losses and reduce operating and maintenance costs.

The goal of the »PV-SoilSens« project is to develop a largely maintenance-free sensor for measuring the degree of soiling on photovoltaic modules. The sensor is designed to operate independently of external power sources, regenerate itself, and provide reliable data on the actual soiling condition of a system.

In collaboration with its partners Automatic Research GmbH, IMT Technology GmbH, VF Reinigungstechnik GmbH, and Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, the Fraunhofer CSP-IMWS is responsible for the optical characterization and calibration of the transmission-based soiling sensor, as well as the development of measurement and correction algorithms. To this end, sensor measurement data is correlated with precise laboratory analyses. The institute’s own soiling test rig and laboratory measurement equipment, such as LED solar simulators, are used for this purpose. Based on this, algorithms are developed that improve the sensor’s accuracy and enable reliable predictions under real-world operating conditions.