TITLE:
Impact of Laterite and Silt Dust Deposition on Crystalline Panels under Local Weather Conditions: Case of the Northern Zone of Cameroon
AUTHORS:
Andre Boussaibo, Ernest Kiata, Kitmo, Goni Abdourahman
KEYWORDS:
Solar Energy, Irradiance, Temperature, Dust, Efficiency
JOURNAL NAME:
Energy and Power Engineering,
Vol.17 No.7,
July
10,
2025
ABSTRACT: The use of photovoltaic panels in areas south of the Sahara is dependent on an environment which seems very unfavorable for optimum conversion efficiency (ratio between electrical power produced and the power received at the surface of the solar panel). In this article, monocrystalline and polycrystalline panels having the same electrical characteristics are subjected to local conditions. The panels are exposed to different densities of lateritic and silt type dust ranging from 0 mg/cm2 to 25 mg/cm2. The panels are exposed under natural irradiance and temperature and measurements are carried out from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., a period of strong sunlight in the study area. The results obtained from the tests show that the surface temperature of the panels reached 71˚C, the monocrystalline panel is more sensitive to temperature compared to the polycrystalline panel. Beyond 1:15 p.m., the combined effects of the temperature which remains high on the surface of the panel and the irradiance which decreases are not favorable for optimal power production. The tests show that regardless of the type of dust, the monocrystalline panel is more impacted at different dust deposition densities than the polycrystalline panel. Regardless of the type of photovoltaic panel, the results also show that lateritic dust has a greater impact on the conversion efficiency than silty type dust.