Microcontroller based dust cleaning system for a standalone photovoltaic system

This paper highlights and presents a solution to reduce the effect of shading and staining on photovoltaic (PV) modules on offshore platforms. Knowledge of the negative consequences of this factor on the PV panels´ output has led to recognizing the importance of regular cleaning. Due to the system´s location, the research had to take into consideration several constraints such as lack of power supply, availability of distilled water, maintenance and available space. Microcontroller technology was used as the electrical basis for the design because of its many advantages especially due to its low power consumption.