Soiling-Induced Energy Loss Mitigation in Utility-Scale Photovoltaic Plants: A Comparative Evaluation of Robotic and Hydrophobic-Coating Approaches

Abstract

Soiling-induced energy loss represents one of the largest controllable performance shortfalls in utility-scale photovoltaic plants located in arid and semi-arid regions, with reported annualized losses ranging from 1.5 to 8 percent of expected energy yield depending on dust composition, deposition rate, and rainfall pattern. This study presents a comparative two-year evaluation of robotic dry-cleaning, robotic wet-cleaning, and hydrophobic-coating approaches across three test plants in three climate zones. The evaluation considers soiling-recovery efficacy, capital cost, operational cost, water consumption, plant-availability impact, and long-term coating durability. We propose a decision-framework matrix that maps site-specific characteristics (dust composition, water availability, plant size, terrain accessibility) to the recommended mitigation approach.