Comparison of the effect of surface contamination on the efficiency of solar panels of different classes

In this thesis, the effect of surface contamination on the energy efficiency of different grades of solar panels is investigated comparatively. Surface contamination of solar panels accumulates over time due to dust, dirt, bird droppings and other environmental factors, which can adversely affect the performance of the panels. In the research, solar panels of various classes (e.g. monocrystalline, polycrystalline, thin film) were selected and the performance of each of them under surface contamination was analysed in detail. In the experimental studies, the panels were exposed to pollution for a certain period of time and then the energy production capacity was measured at regular intervals. The data were used to compare the performance of clean panels with dirty panels and the effect of pollution on each panel class was evaluated. The results show that surface contamination significantly reduces solar panel efficiency, and it is concluded that regular surface cleaning improves energy efficiency. This study emphasises the importance of maintenance strategies in solar energy systems and provides a guiding framework for determining the optimal cleaning frequency for different solar panel types.