Do dirty solar panels still shine?
- Beschreibung
The accumulation of dust on photovoltaic (PV) modules significantly reduces their energy conversion efficiency. Regular manual cleaning or invasive testing can be costly and impractical for large solar farms. A non-invasive, imaging-based approach offers the potential for rapid, continuous, and low-cost monitoring of dust effects on solar panel performance.
This project aims to develop and evaluate an imaging method to detect and quantify the efficiency loss of solar panels under varying dust conditions without physical contact. Imaging data will be correlated with the electrical performance measurements to establish reliable indicators of performance degradation. Experiments will involve controlled dust deposition on solar modules under standardized illumination conditions. The performance of the imaging system will be validated against actual electrical output measurements to assess accuracy and robustness.
- Beschreibung des interdisziplinären Teils des Projekts
- The project will be conducted during the winter semester. The schedule is very flexible (in consultation with the supervisors). Image acquisition and electrical measurements will be carried out at the Institute of Agricultural Engineering, tropics and subtropics group. Data analysis and modelling can be done remotely.
- Projektzeitraum
- Wintersemester 2025/2026
- Bewerbungszeitraum
- 13. bis 27.10.2025
- Durchführung
- semesterbegleitend
- Details zu Projektzeitraum und Durchführung
The setup includes a solar panel connected to a voltmeter to measure its electrical output, along with camera systems to capture images for analysis. To test performance, we sprayed different amounts of dust onto the panel and then measured its power both under natural sunlight and simulated light conditions. This helped us compare how clean and dusty panels perform and understand how imaging and measurement tools can work together to assess solar panel efficiency during the project period and implementation.
- Studienfach
- offen für alle Studienfächer
- Betreuende
- Khandoker Ahammad, Wiomou Bonzi, Janvier Ntwali, Iris Ramaj, Prof. Dr. Joachim Müller
- Institut
- Institut für Agrartechnik (440) (Agricultural sciences ,Renewable raw materials and bioenergy,Sustainability & Change)
- Sprache
- deutsch/englisch
- Teilnehmendenanzahl
- min. 1, max. 1
- Arbeitsaufwand
-
ca. 150 Stunden pro Teilnehmende:r
| 5
ECTS-Punkte
Arbeitsaufwand (Stunden und ggf. ECTS) sind ungefähre Angaben. Die tatsächlich vergebenen ECTS-Punkte ergeben sich aus der tatsächlich geleisteten Arbeit.
- Für dieses Projekt ist kein Motivationsschreiben des Studierenden erforderlich
- Projektart
- experimentell
- Lernziele
-
Die Teilnehmende lernen in diesem Projekt:
In this project, participants will learn:
- Formulating and processing a scientific question
- Fundamentals of photovoltaic energy
- Basics of imaging-based monitoring for PV diagnostics
- Application and evaluation of measurement techniques
- Conducting experimental work and collecting scientific data
- Data analysis and interpretation of results
- Anmerkungen für Studierende
- Motivated and interested in the topic.
- It is possible to integrate the project into a bachelor thesis
- Schlagworte
- solar panel efficiency, dust deposition, non-invasive diagnostics, photovoltaic performance monitoring