Fast Partial Shading Detection on PV Modules for Precise Power Loss Ratio Estimation Using Digital Image Processing

Maintaining the maximum performance of solar panels poses the foremost challenge for solar photovoltaic power plants in this era. One of the common PV faults which decreases PV power output is a hot spot which is caused by a prolonged local partial shading from objects, such as dust piles or animal waste. To prevent it, an enormous effort for PV inspection is needed especially for large solar power plants. Hence, automatic partial shading detection is critical in preventing PV hot spots to assist maintenance activities which are associated with a drop in energy output. This research developed fast partial shading detection application on PV modules using digital image processing to detect the hot spot and PV modules areas and afterwards calculate the PV systems power loss ratio. The proposed method demonstrated a hot spot detection rate of 94.74% and a module detection rate of 100%. The power loss ratio calculation is compared and validated using IV curve measurement and has 91.26% similarity value which is a feasible application for the real-world system.