• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Earth Wise

A look at our changing environment.

  • Home
  • About Earth Wise
  • Where to Listen
  • All Articles
  • Show Search
Hide Search
You are here: Home / Air and Water / Air Pollution And Solar Power

Air Pollution And Solar Power

July 28, 2017 By EarthWise

https://earthwiseradio.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/EW-07-28-17-Air-Pollution-and-Solar-Power.mp3

We are well-aware of the negative effects of air pollution on human health and on the environment, but a recent study at Duke University has revealed that global solar energy production is taking a major hit due to air pollution and dust.

The study found that airborne particles accumulating on solar cells are cutting energy output by more than 25% in certain parts of the world.  The places most strongly affected are China, India and the Arabian Peninsula, all areas investing heavily in solar energy installations.

Duke researchers measured the output of solar panels at the Indian Institute of Technology in Gandhinagar and found that as the panels became progressively dirtier over time, their output dropped steadily.  Their data showed that there was a 50% jump in efficiency each time the panels were cleaned after being left alone for several weeks.

Most of the coating on the panels was dust with the rest being carbon and ion pollutants from human activity.  However, the study found that light is blocked more efficiently by the smaller man-made particles than by natural dust and the man-made particles were stickier and harder to remove.

Overall, in these regions, solar panels are losing 17-25% of their energy production when cleaned every month and 25-35% if cleaned only every other month.  In our country, there is relatively little migratory dust and this effect is considerably smaller.

However in China, the world’s largest solar power producer, tens of billions of dollars are being lost each year.  It is just another reason for policymakers around the world to control emissions.

**********

 

Web Links

Air Pollution Casts Shadow over Solar Energy Production

Photo, posted July 30, 2003, courtesy of Hiroo Yamagata via Flickr.

 

‘Air Pollution and Solar Power’ from Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

Filed Under: Air and Water, Climate Change, Economy and Policy, Energy, Our Environment, Sustainable Living, Technology Tagged With: air pollution, arabian peninsula, carbon, china, control, data, dirty, duke university, dust, efficiency, emissions, energy, environment, human health, India, light, manmade, migratory dust, output, particles, pollution, reduction, researchers, scientists, solar, solar cells, solar power, sticky, United States

Primary Sidebar

Recent Episodes

  • Sea Level Rise And Global Security | Earth Wise
  • Keeping The Keeling Curve Going | Earth Wise
  • Great Salt Lake In Danger | Earth Wise
  • Distributed Wind Energy | Earth Wise
  • Solar Power At Night | Earth Wise

WAMC Northeast Public Radio

WAMC/Northeast Public Radio is a regional public radio network serving parts of seven northeastern states (more...)

Copyright © 2023 ·