Performance Modeling of Rooftop PV Systems in Arid Climate, a Case Study for Qatar: Impact of Soiling Losses and Albedo Using PVsyst and SAM
<p dir="ltr">This study presents a comparative performance modeling and optimization framework for a 5 kWp rooftop photovoltaic (PV) system in Qatar, using two widely adopted simulation tools, PVsyst and the System Advisor Model (SAM). The research addresses a key limitation in exist...
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2025
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| _version_ | 1864513533183524864 |
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| author | Sachin Jain (19161721) |
| author2 | Mohamed Abdelrahim (5340434) Amir A. Abdallah (11183642) Dhanup S Pillai (13353360) Sertac Bayhan (16388511) |
| author2_role | author author author author |
| author_facet | Sachin Jain (19161721) Mohamed Abdelrahim (5340434) Amir A. Abdallah (11183642) Dhanup S Pillai (13353360) Sertac Bayhan (16388511) |
| author_role | author |
| dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv | Sachin Jain (19161721) Mohamed Abdelrahim (5340434) Amir A. Abdallah (11183642) Dhanup S Pillai (13353360) Sertac Bayhan (16388511) |
| dc.date.none.fl_str_mv | 2025-11-07T00:00:00Z |
| dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv | 10.3390/en18225876 |
| dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv | https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Performance_Modeling_of_Rooftop_PV_Systems_in_Arid_Climate_a_Case_Study_for_Qatar_Impact_of_Soiling_Losses_and_Albedo_Using_PVsyst_and_SAM/30575234 |
| dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv | CC BY 4.0 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
| dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv | Engineering Electrical engineering Electronics, sensors and digital hardware Environmental engineering Environmental sciences Environmental management Physical sciences Astronomical sciences photovoltaic performance modeling soiling loss arid climate rooftop PV HSU soiling model Differential Evolution (DE) PVsyst System Advisor Model (SAM) albedo DustIQ sensor |
| dc.title.none.fl_str_mv | Performance Modeling of Rooftop PV Systems in Arid Climate, a Case Study for Qatar: Impact of Soiling Losses and Albedo Using PVsyst and SAM |
| dc.type.none.fl_str_mv | Text Journal contribution info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion text contribution to journal |
| description | <p dir="ltr">This study presents a comparative performance modeling and optimization framework for a 5 kWp rooftop photovoltaic (PV) system in Qatar, using two widely adopted simulation tools, PVsyst and the System Advisor Model (SAM). The research addresses a key limitation in existing PV modeling practice: the restricted capability of standard software to represent site-specific soiling and dynamic albedo effects under arid climatic conditions. To overcome these limitations, the Humboldt State University (HSU) soiling model was calibrated using field measurements from a DustIQ sensor, and its parameters, rainfall cleaning threshold and particulate deposition velocity were optimized through a Differential Evolution algorithm. Additionally, the study utilized dynamic albedo inputs to better account for ground-reflectance effects in energy yield simulations. The optimized approach reduced the root mean square error (RMSE) of predicted soiling ratios from 7.30 to 1.93 and improved the agreement between simulated and measured monthly energy yields for 2024, achieving normalized RMSE values of 4.66% in SAM and 4.86% in PVsyst. The findings demonstrate that coupling data-driven soiling optimization with refined albedo representation modernizes the predictive capabilities of PVsyst and SAM, yielding more reliable performance forecasts. This methodological advancement supports better-informed design and operation of rooftop PV systems in desert environments where soiling and reflectivity effects are pronounced.</p><h2>Other Information</h2><p dir="ltr">Published in: Energies<br>License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/en18225876" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.3390/en18225876</a></p> |
| eu_rights_str_mv | openAccess |
| id | Manara2_8e3a5e8cf7a97e173189ebe712cfe5d9 |
| identifier_str_mv | 10.3390/en18225876 |
| network_acronym_str | Manara2 |
| network_name_str | Manara2 |
| oai_identifier_str | oai:figshare.com:article/30575234 |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| repository.mail.fl_str_mv | |
| repository.name.fl_str_mv | |
| repository_id_str | |
| rights_invalid_str_mv | CC BY 4.0 |
| spelling | Performance Modeling of Rooftop PV Systems in Arid Climate, a Case Study for Qatar: Impact of Soiling Losses and Albedo Using PVsyst and SAMSachin Jain (19161721)Mohamed Abdelrahim (5340434)Amir A. Abdallah (11183642)Dhanup S Pillai (13353360)Sertac Bayhan (16388511)EngineeringElectrical engineeringElectronics, sensors and digital hardwareEnvironmental engineeringEnvironmental sciencesEnvironmental managementPhysical sciencesAstronomical sciencesphotovoltaic performance modelingsoiling lossarid climaterooftop PVHSU soiling modelDifferential Evolution (DE)PVsystSystem Advisor Model (SAM)albedoDustIQ sensor<p dir="ltr">This study presents a comparative performance modeling and optimization framework for a 5 kWp rooftop photovoltaic (PV) system in Qatar, using two widely adopted simulation tools, PVsyst and the System Advisor Model (SAM). The research addresses a key limitation in existing PV modeling practice: the restricted capability of standard software to represent site-specific soiling and dynamic albedo effects under arid climatic conditions. To overcome these limitations, the Humboldt State University (HSU) soiling model was calibrated using field measurements from a DustIQ sensor, and its parameters, rainfall cleaning threshold and particulate deposition velocity were optimized through a Differential Evolution algorithm. Additionally, the study utilized dynamic albedo inputs to better account for ground-reflectance effects in energy yield simulations. The optimized approach reduced the root mean square error (RMSE) of predicted soiling ratios from 7.30 to 1.93 and improved the agreement between simulated and measured monthly energy yields for 2024, achieving normalized RMSE values of 4.66% in SAM and 4.86% in PVsyst. The findings demonstrate that coupling data-driven soiling optimization with refined albedo representation modernizes the predictive capabilities of PVsyst and SAM, yielding more reliable performance forecasts. This methodological advancement supports better-informed design and operation of rooftop PV systems in desert environments where soiling and reflectivity effects are pronounced.</p><h2>Other Information</h2><p dir="ltr">Published in: Energies<br>License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/en18225876" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.3390/en18225876</a></p>2025-11-07T00:00:00ZTextJournal contributioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersiontextcontribution to journal10.3390/en18225876https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Performance_Modeling_of_Rooftop_PV_Systems_in_Arid_Climate_a_Case_Study_for_Qatar_Impact_of_Soiling_Losses_and_Albedo_Using_PVsyst_and_SAM/30575234CC BY 4.0info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:figshare.com:article/305752342025-11-07T00:00:00Z |
| spellingShingle | Performance Modeling of Rooftop PV Systems in Arid Climate, a Case Study for Qatar: Impact of Soiling Losses and Albedo Using PVsyst and SAM Sachin Jain (19161721) Engineering Electrical engineering Electronics, sensors and digital hardware Environmental engineering Environmental sciences Environmental management Physical sciences Astronomical sciences photovoltaic performance modeling soiling loss arid climate rooftop PV HSU soiling model Differential Evolution (DE) PVsyst System Advisor Model (SAM) albedo DustIQ sensor |
| status_str | publishedVersion |
| title | Performance Modeling of Rooftop PV Systems in Arid Climate, a Case Study for Qatar: Impact of Soiling Losses and Albedo Using PVsyst and SAM |
| title_full | Performance Modeling of Rooftop PV Systems in Arid Climate, a Case Study for Qatar: Impact of Soiling Losses and Albedo Using PVsyst and SAM |
| title_fullStr | Performance Modeling of Rooftop PV Systems in Arid Climate, a Case Study for Qatar: Impact of Soiling Losses and Albedo Using PVsyst and SAM |
| title_full_unstemmed | Performance Modeling of Rooftop PV Systems in Arid Climate, a Case Study for Qatar: Impact of Soiling Losses and Albedo Using PVsyst and SAM |
| title_short | Performance Modeling of Rooftop PV Systems in Arid Climate, a Case Study for Qatar: Impact of Soiling Losses and Albedo Using PVsyst and SAM |
| title_sort | Performance Modeling of Rooftop PV Systems in Arid Climate, a Case Study for Qatar: Impact of Soiling Losses and Albedo Using PVsyst and SAM |
| topic | Engineering Electrical engineering Electronics, sensors and digital hardware Environmental engineering Environmental sciences Environmental management Physical sciences Astronomical sciences photovoltaic performance modeling soiling loss arid climate rooftop PV HSU soiling model Differential Evolution (DE) PVsyst System Advisor Model (SAM) albedo DustIQ sensor |