Performance evaluation of self-cleaning antireflective coating for photovoltaic panels

Dust accumulation or stains on photovoltaic (PV) panels pose a significant challenge, reducing efficiency and shortening lifespan. Commonly used cleaning methods, such as manual cleaning, rely on water, which raises concerns about the economic and environmental feasibility of the technique. To address this challenge, a self-cleaning mechanism via a novel water/isopropyl alcohol-based coating developed by NanoPhos S.A. is investigated, which provides antireflective performance that could increase the transmittance of PV glass while reducing dust deposition. In this study, the impact of a self-cleaning, super-hydrophilic, and photocatalytic coating is investigated. The evaluation of the coated panels is demonstrated in accordance with IEC 61724-1:2021 in Greece, at the Technological and Cultural Park demonstration site in Lavrion. To evaluate the PV performance, crucial parameters, such as yields, losses, and efficiencies, are computed. The analysis is conducted within the services offered by the Open Innovation Test Beds, which enable material suppliers to integrate their innovative, carbon-neutral material solutions into the European Key Value Chain. The study's findings indicate an average gain of over 5% in the performance ratio across the entire period.