TITLE:
Investigation on the Impact of Dust Types on Monocrystalline PV Module Performance in Malaysia
AUTHORS:
Kyairul Azmi Baharin, Muhammad Izzuddin Ghazali, Zaridah Mat Zain
KEYWORDS:
PV Performance, Dust Deposition, Power Loss Mitigation
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Power and Energy Engineering,
Vol.13 No.9,
September
10,
2025
ABSTRACT: Dust accumulation on photovoltaic (PV) panels significantly reduces energy output, particularly in areas with high particulate matter from natural or industrial sources. This study aims to evaluate the effects of sand, cement, and charcoal dust on short-circuit current (Isc), open-circuit voltage (Voc), and panel surface temperature, identifying which parameters are most affected and which dust types pose the greatest risk to efficiency. Controlled laboratory experiments were conducted with dust mass of 30 g, 40 g, and 50 g applied uniformly to PV panels, and performance metrics were measured relative to clean-panel baselines. Results indicate that Isc is highly sensitive to dust, with sand causing a 40% reduction at 30 g and up to 85% at 50 g, while cement and charcoal consistently cause severe 80% - 100% reductions at all weights. Voc remains largely stable, with only minor variations such as a 5% - 8% drop for cement at 40 g, confirming that current loss is the primary cause of power degradation. Panel temperature generally rises with dust, with charcoal showing the highest increase at heavier loads due to greater heat absorption. These findings underscore the importance of frequent cleaning and mitigation strategies in dust-prone environments, especially where fine industrial particulates are present.