Integrated Modeling of Dynamic Soiling and Partial Shading Effects on Photovoltaic Performance in Tropical Climates

Abstract

 Predicting PV performance in tropical climates is challenging due to the combined effects of soiling and partial shading. We developed an integrated dynamic model capturing their joint impact on thermal and electrical PV behavior, validated on a 4 kW rooftop plant at the University of La Réunion. Analyses show that shading faults can reduce power by up to 96%, with current being the most sensitive parameter, while soiling gradually lowers daily performance ratios, temporarily restored by rainfall events. The model accurately reproduces measured outputs, demonstrating that considering both phenomena improves PV performance prediction. These results support enhanced fault detection, performance forecasting, and adaptive PV system operation in tropical environments.