Impact of Aerosols on Photovoltaic Energy Production Using a Spectrally Resolved Model Chain: Case Study of Southern West Africa

Abstract

Based on an analysis of the aerosol optical properties for Cotonou, Benin from the DACCIWA measurement campaign, we investigate the impact of aerosols on PV power for polycrystalline silicon and amorphous silicon technology using a spectrally resolved model chain. The model considers both spectral effects on global irradiance due to different aerosol properties as well as the spectral response of different PV technologies. The results show that aerosol emissions due to the biomass outbreak lead to solar flux losses of up to 55%, which correspond to a reduction in photovoltaic power of up to 81% for the polycrystalline cell and 78% for the amorphous cell. Comparing the effects of aerosols on the photovoltaic power between the two technologies, we find that during the morning and evening hours, when there is more diffuse irradiance, the amorphous cell suffers a greater reduction in power (36%) than the polycrystalline cell (27%). Conversely, in the middle of the day, we observe a greater PV power reduction of 12% for the polycrystalline cell compared to that for the amorphous cell (8%).

Keywords: Aerosol, Spectral effects, Photovoltaic cell, PV model, West Africa