Novel Hydrophobic Coatings for Soiling Mitigation in the PV Industry: Durability and Anti-Soiling Demonstrations

Soiling, the buildup of debris on the front-side of a solar module, can significantly reduce the power production due to a reduction in transmitted light to the underlying solar cell. A potential solution to soiling mitigation involves the use of hydrophobic coatings. In this study commercially available hydrophobic coatings found in non-PV sectors of industry are investigated. Through the use of anti-soiling and standardized durability testing procedures, the suitability of these existing hydrophobic coatings for use in the PV industry is quantitatively analyzed.