Towards sustainable IoT deployment: evaluating photovoltaic performance under dust exposure in desert climates

Abstract

The growing adoption of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies in sectors such as environmental monitoring, transportation, and smart cities has increased the demand for reliable, long-term power solutions. Solar energy harvesting via photovoltaic (PV) modules offers a sustainable alternative to conventional batteries. However, in arid environments, performance is significantly hindered by dust accumulation and high ambient temperatures, leading to reduced irradiance capture, power losses, and operational disruptions—particularly in remote deployments with limited maintenance access.

This thesis investigates PV performance degradation due to dust accumulation and evaluates passive cleaning strategies, focusing on tilt angle optimisation and the role of natural rainfall. A year-long field study was conducted in a desert setting using PV modules mounted at various fixed tilt angles. Each setup included one regularly cleaned and one dust-exposed module, allowing for controlled comparison under real-world conditions.

Results show that low-tilt modules experienced power losses of up to 80.4% over a 183- day dry period, with light rainfall occasionally worsening soiling. Moderate tilt angles provided the best year-round performance, offering a balance between dust mitigation and energy capture. Steeper angles were more effective at shedding dust but yielded lower overall energy output. These outcomes underscore the importance of tilt angle in reducing dust-related losses and improving the resilience of PV systems in arid regions. The study offers practical insights for designing solar-powered IoT deployments, demonstrating that optimised tilt and natural cleaning mechanisms can enhance system reliability and sustainability in desert conditions.

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Identifiers

ORCID for Mansour Alzahrani: orcid.org/0000-0002-0458-773X

ORCID for Alex Weddell: orcid.org/0000-0002-6763-5460

ORCID for Tasmiat Rahman: orcid.org/0000-0002-6485-2128

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