Research

The Problem

Photovoltaic (PV) plants and Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) installations suffer losses in output power due to the natural deposition of dust on the solar collectors’ surface, a phenomenon termed as “soiling”. Soiling losses can amount to 5 to 70% loss of the annual power output unless the modules are cleaned frequently. Fresh water needed for cleaning solar collectors of utility-scale solar plants can cause a major negative impact in many areas of the world suffering from water scarcity. If solar power is to grow to the terra-watt level capacity as predicted, there is not enough fresh water available in semi-arid and desert areas of the world to clean the solar collectors.

 

The EDS

The Electrodynamic Screen (EDS) film consists of interdigitated, parallel electrodes in a 3-phase design that when activated by pulsed voltages generates a traveling electric field, which charges and sweeps the dust particles from the module surface, with no moving parts or water requirement.

Schematic diagram of the EDS Film showing: a) the three phase design; b) dust removal process upon activation.

When activated for under two minutes, the EDS film can restore the output power of a PV panel to over 95% of its original power output.

  • EDS films can be integrated directly onto the front optical surface of a PV module or retrofitted in a solar field.
  • Energy requirement for cleaning is small, less than 0.02 W/m2/cleaning cycle.
  • EDS film prototypes are screen printed in the lab and/or produced using flexographic printing at Eastman Kodak Company using their existing roll-to-roll manufacturing plant.
  • The EDS films’ electrodes are protected by a transparent dielectric film that acts as the top surface.
Left: EDS Film prototype integrated with a solar cell; Right: EDS Film prototype integrated on optical surface of a mirror.

 

Integration with PV

The EDS Film integrated on the top surface of a photovoltaic (PV) module (zoom in picture shows the electrodes of the EDS Film).

The EDS film can be integrated as a component of a PV module during initial fabrication. The mechanical flexibility of the EDS film also enables after-market retrofitting. Integration of the EDS has multiple benefits.

  • Increase the power output by allowing frequent, on demand cleanings.
  • Reduce the O&M cost of operating a solar plant by mitigating soiling losses
  • Minimize consumption of water

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