Design of a Dust Cleaning Machine to Reduce Dust Soiling on Solar PV Panels in Ghana

Abstract

The emergence of Renewable Energy (RE) is a welcome remedy to mitigate the harmful effects of global warming due to the use of fossil fuels. Renewable Energy Technologies (RETs) facilitate the use of RE, especially using solar photovoltaic panels. However, natural events such as the deposition of dust onto the surfaces of mounted solar panels tend to reduce their power output and subsequently reduce their efficiency. Cleaning solutions are therefore vital in improving the efficiency of solar panels. This paper seeks to design and implement a dust-cleaning machine for solar panels to improve efficiency. The paper methodically sequences from the design requirements through major design decisions and prototyping the proposed remedy to the dust soiling problem, a combined wet and dry brush-based cleaning approach. Implementing such a dust-cleaning mechanism for solar panels will improve panel efficiency and reduce maintenance costs and safety risks associated with manual solar panel cleaning.