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Dust accumulation on photovoltaic modules (PVs) affects performance and reduces productivity. Many parameters specify the dust effect, and the degradation is different for PV technologies. In this study, four PV modules each with a 100 W rating were installed and tested horizontally in Sohar, Oman, for an entire year. Two monocrystalline (m-Si) and two polycrystalline (p-Si), one dusty and one kept clean. The measured power, voltage, and current show the degradation where the m-Si shows more reduction compared with p-Si. According to microscopic and XRD analysis, the dust particles have a size of 25–61 µm, and the main elements are SiO2 (55.7%) and CaO (30.0%). For m-Si and p-Si, power reductions were 19% and 14%, respectively. M-Si is more affected by dust than p-Si based on its I-V characteristics. After 55 days of dust accumulation, m-Si power degradation was found to be 40%. Furthermore, the highest power degradation was found in August. The m-Si efficiency, PV performance, capacity, and yield factors are 9.24–10.76%, 52.76–72.81%, 19.53, and 140.87 Wh/Wp, respectively. The results conclude that despite the dust accumulation still, the m-Si PV module shows promising behavior and characteristics in Oman. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar energy and photovoltaic (PV) systems became an essential part of the global energy profile. The PV systems are designed using different configurations such as standalone, grid-connected, and tracking. However, PV systems could be added to other renewable energy systems or nonrenewable energy systems such as wind turbines and diesel generators, respectively. In this context, designers, researchers, and engineers working to find the optimum design fitting the electrical load in terms of technical, economic, environmental, and social aspects. Many software, models, and algorithms were invented and proposed to help to find the optimum PV sizing and design. In this paper, a comprehensive review was conducted to describe, evaluate, and compare most of the software (36 software were considered), models, and algorithms used to design PV systems in the past eight decades. It is found that PV system design optimization tools developed with time and needs. Different classifications are used for design software, sometimes as classical and artificial or single and hybrid algorithms. However, hybrid algorithms became the most used algorithm due to their flexibility and ability to deal with complex problems. Also, comparison and critical review are presented, and a case study is given in this paper. It is found that REPS.OM software results are closer to the case study experimental results compared with HOMER software with less than 7% variation between the two software. The review presented in this paper provides useful information to identify PV system design software suitable for the user application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]