The energy delivery of a solar-energy system is generally associated with the sun's available irradiance and spectral content, as well as a variety of environmental and climatic factors and inherent system and component performances. However, other external factors relating to geographical location and conditions can have even greater impacts on system performance. Among these, soiling is a commonly overlooked or underestimated issue that can be a showstopper for the viability of a solar installation. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of soiling problems, primarily those associated with “dust” (sand) and combined dust–moisture conditions that are inherent to many of the most solar-rich geographic locations worldwide. We review and evaluate key contributions to the understanding, performance effects, and mitigation of these problems. These contributions span a technical history of almost seven decades. We also present an inclusive literature survey/assessment. The focus is on both transmissive surfaces (e.g., those used for flat-plate photovoltaics or for concentrating lenses) and reflective surfaces (e.g., mirrors or heliostats for concentrating power systems).

A comprehensive review of the impact of dust on the use of solar energy: History, investigations, results, literature, and mitigation approaches

Desert dust and human health disorders.

Effect of dust on the transparent cover of solar collectors

The contemporary physical and chemical flux of aeolian dust: A synthesis of direct measurements of dust deposition

Ravi, S., D'Odorico, P., Breshears, D. D., Field, J. P., Goudie, A. S., Huxman, T. E., Li, J., Okin, G. S., Swap, R. J., Thomas, A. D., Pelt, S. V., Whicker, J. J., Zobeck, T. M. (2011). Aeolian processes and the biosphere. Reviews of Geophysics, 49 (3).

https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1029/2010RG000328

Aeolian processes and the biosphere

The content and contributions of deposited aeolian organic matter in a dry land ecosystem of the Negev Desert, Israel

Airborne dust in the Northern Negev Desert (January-December 1987): general occurrence and dust concentration measurements

Wind-blown soil degradation is a major problem in arid regions Biogenic soil crust consists of a dense growth of many small organisms covering bare desert soil surfaces in arid regions worldwide These organisms perform essential services in the ecosystem, for example, soil surface stabilization and carbon and nitrogen fixation A unique service provided by biogenic crusts is the incorporation of large quantities of deposited atmospheric particles, leading to a significantly enhanced rate of increase in soil depth in windy and arid environments A long-term study (over 42 months) was conducted to investigate the contribution of a biogenic crust to the accumulation of atmospheric particles in an arid zone Undisturbed and treated biogenic crusts were studied for their capacity to incorporate deposited particles Atmospheric particles were found to accumulate on marble dust collectors at a rate of 120 g m−2 year−1 and on sterilized crust at a rate of 208 g m−2 year−1, while the accumulation rate on live, intact crusts was 277 g m−2 year−1, suggesting a soil depth accretion rate on an undisturbed biogenic crust of 10 mm every 33 years Maintenance of a healthy biogenic crust in dry land environments should, therefore, be a major consideration for improving soil quality and increasing soil depth in arid regions

Biogenic soil crusts and soil depth: a long-term case study from the Central Negev desert highland.

In arid and semiarid regions, aeolian particle input is one of the major sources of soil nutrients. The particle input also improves the soil depth and strongly influences the water‐holding capacity of the soil. The authors studied the airborne particle accumulation dynamics on the soil surface in the Northern Negev desert (Sayeret Shaked Park) in comparison to the Central Negev highland (Sede Boqer and Shivta). The measurements of the components of the aeolian deposition and accumulation at the study site of the Sayeret Shaked Park were carried out for 3 years from August 1992 to July 1995. The average soil accumulation for this period was 0.22 g m−2 d−1 (80.64 g m−2 year−1). The minimal quantity during the research period was during July 1993 (1.35 g m−2 month−1) and the maximal was in March 1993 (24.42 g m−2 month−1). Significant differences were obtained during the whole study period regarding the slope directions of the watershed. The aeolian accumulation and the deposition on the north‐facing slope ...

Aeolian particle input to the soil surface at the northern limit of the Negev desert

The Brussels Capital Region has difficulties in meeting the stringent EU daily limit value for PM10 in all its measuring sites. Postponing the attainment of the deadline was not granted by the EU Commission, mainly due to insufficient judged measures to reduce road traffic emissions. However, a thorough analysis of the data makes clear that neither the particle mass concentration (PM10 and PM2.5) nor the particle number concentration are specific metrics for evaluating the particle pollution originated by traffic. In fact, increased formation of secondary aerosol, together with adverse meteorological conditions and the (re) suspension of the coarser fraction are by far the three main explanations for the numerous PM10 exceeding values. From our experience, amongst the particles measured, only the results for Black Carbon (BC), mainly present in the lower submicron range, are reflective of the direct influence of local traffic. Measured at two traffic sites along with PM mass and number concentrations, the data for Black Carbon show a striking correlation with nitrogen monoxide, a parameter strongly related with the proximity of the local traffic. The correlation factor between Black Carbon data and NO or NOX is much higher than between Black Carbon and the PM mass or number concentration. Therefore the assessment of traffic related particles should consider Black Carbon rather than PM10 or PM2.5.

/pdf/black-carbon-instead-of-particle-mass-concentration-as-an-52shnga8t3.pdf

Zvi Yehoshua Offer

Papers

The content and contributions of deposited aeolian organic matter in a dry land ecosystem of the Negev Desert, Israel

Airborne dust in the Northern Negev Desert (January-December 1987): general occurrence and dust concentration measurements

Biogenic soil crusts and soil depth: a long-term case study from the Central Negev desert highland.

Aeolian particle input to the soil surface at the northern limit of the Negev desert

Black Carbon Instead of Particle Mass Concentration as an Indicator for the Traffic Related Particles in the Brussels Capital Region