61968: Student Physics, Informatics, Meteorology, Energy Technology or similar (f/m/x) - Soiling measurements in PV fields with static surveillance cameras

You will be closely integrated into our diverse and highly motivated team in the “Solar Energy Meteorology group” located in Almería (Spain). An experienced colleague will closely work together with you and support you throughout the entire work. The project will be aligned with the responsible professor of your university.

The efficiency of photovoltaic power plants is negatively affected by dust deposited on the surfaces. In the operation of photovoltaic power plants, the resulting efficiency and the costs spent on cleaning the modules play an important role. Knowing the current soiling ratio of a solar field, the power plant yield can be optimized by adjusting the cleaning activity or by taking measures to reduce the amount of soiling. Soiling causes noticeable yield losses of several percentage points for PV power plants on an annual average, depending on the location and cleaning. The degree of soiling varies greatly within a solar field. Currently, it is only recorded at a few points. A more extensive knowledge offers a great potential to improve cleaning processes and dirt prevention significantly. To determine the degree of soiling, an image evaluation method is being developed at DLR that estimates the degree of soiling from drone images of PV fields. A planned extension of the measurement method is the use of static cameras, e.g. surveillance cameras, to minimize monitoring costs and to achieve a high measurement frequency, which is not practical with drones. As part of a thesis or internship, you will contribute to the development of soiling measurement and develop a calibration method. For this purpose, camera images and reference data are to be acquired automatically, the existing evaluation routine is to be adapted to the static measurement situation and the measurement result is to be compared with reference data in order to test and validate the method. The Plataforma Solar de Almeria and a commercial power plant of a project partner in Spain are planned as measurement sites.