Dust Detection & Protection System (DDPS) for Low-Cost Sustainable Waterless Solar Maintenance: Economic and Environmental Benefits

Dust accumulation severely reduces the efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) panels, particularly in arid and conflict-affected regions where water, labor and safe maintenance access are limited.In areas such as Gaza and Ukraine, decentralized solar energy systems have become critical for civilian communication and essential services, highlighting the need for reliable, low-maintenance cleaning solutions.This study presents a cost-effective, waterless solar panel cleaning system that enhances energy yield, reduces operational costs and conserves water resources.Economic analysis demonstrates a favorable payback period and potential for large-scale deployment.The system contributes to circular economy objectives and promotes equitable energy access, supporting SDGs 6 and 7. Policy incentives for sustainable cleaning technologies could accelerate adoption in arid and conflict-affected regions.The proposed system employs sensor-based dust monitoring and a Predictive Reflex control architecture implemented on an Arduino Uno microcontroller, activating an air-fan-based cleaning mechanism only when required.The system draws power directly from the host PV panel, eliminating the need for external energy sources and human intervention.Experimental results demonstrate a significant performance improvement, with an average power output increase of 56.055% after cleaning.The DDPS provides a low-cost, scalable and environmentally sustainable solution for maintaining solar panel efficiency in water-scarce and high-risk environments.