Press Release #14 / 2022
AVUSpro: Sensor Autonomously Measures Soiling on Solar Power Plants

Solar thermal power plants – whether parabolic trough or solar tower – are mostly constructed in desert areas with plenty of sun. In such places, soiling from sand and dust causes high uncertainties in the yield forecast and increased operating costs. In the “AVUSpro” project, the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, PSE Instruments GmbH, TSK Flagsol Engineering GmbH and Dornier Suntrace GmbH have developed a fully automatic device to measure soiling. The four partners have successfully tested the measurement device in a solar parabolic trough power plant in Kuwait. The collected data can be used to optimize cleaning techniques and cycles to increase yield and minimize costs and water use.
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