PVEL intros soiling measurement system for solar PV modules

USA: North America’s premier PV module testing lab, PV Evolution Labs (PVEL), has introduced a new Soiling Station program for measurement of power and energy loss due to module soiling in the field.

Soiling is the accumulation of dirt on PV modules, which can reduce annual energy output of a plant by up to 10% depending on the site location. Rather than guess about the level of soiling occurring, PVEL customers can now be certain about the performance of an existing site, or the expected performance at a proposed site.

“The measurement of soiling is essential if a project owner or developer wants to truly understand measured or expected performance,” said Evan Riley, a PV specialist at leading global consultancy Black & Veatch. “When done with a prospecting station, soiling measurement reduces uncertainty in forward looking production estimates. At operational plants, soiling measurement allows for more accurate performance testing and performance assessments, and frequently a higher return on O&M dollars.”

Available as a standalone unit or integrated with a plant’s existing monitoring system, PVEL’s Soiling Stations use two full-sized modules, with one allowed to soil naturally while the other is cleaned with an automatic washing system. Power and energy are monitored for both modules and additional modules can be added to the system and cleaned at varying intervals, allowing for O&M staff to determine optimized cleaning schedules for their system. On modules that have coatings designed to repel dirt, the soiling station can be used to compare and evaluate the effectiveness of those coating technologies.

“Solar project developers rely on PVEL’s ability to reduce or eliminate uncertainty when it comes to PV power plant output. Measuring soiling is gaining attention because, as solar assets become a greater part of investor portfolios, accurate modeling and measuring of performance are critical to solar project investment,” said Jenya Meydbray, CEO of PV Evolution Labs.