Photovoltaic Technology for Hot and Arid Environments

The need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and dependency on fossil fuels necessitates accelerated deployment of renewable energy, such as photovoltaics (PV). Regions with high insolation in the 'Sun Belt' covering north Africa and the middle east, as well as in Australia, parts of Latin America, and elsewhere offer tremendous potential for PV, including for green hydrogen production. However, these regions are characterized by a hot climate and a dusty environment, both causing reduction of PV panel performance by 25% or more. The development of solar cells with enhanced resistance to thermal degradation and the reduction of panel soiling have therefore been subjects of intense study.