TY - JOUR A1 - Shirakawa, M.A. A1 - Zilles, R. A1 - Mocelin, A. A1 - Gaylarde, C.C. A1 - Gorbushina, Anna A1 - Heidrich, Gabriele A1 - Giudice, M.C. A1 - Del Negro, G.M.B. A1 - John, V.M. T1 - Microbial colonization affects the efficiency of photovoltaic panels in a tropical environment N2 - Sub-aerial biofilm (SAB) development on solar panels was studied in São Paulo. After 6, 12 and 18 months' exposure, photovoltaic panels were covered by increasing proportions of organic matter (42%, 53% and 58%, respectively). Fungi were an important component of these biofilms; very few phototrophs were found. Major microorganisms detected were melanised meristematic ascomycetes and pigmented bacterial genera Arthrobacter and Tetracoccus. While diverse algae, cyanobacteria and bacteria were identified in biofilms at 6 and 12 months, diversity at a later stage was reduced to that typical for SAB: the only fungal group detected in 18 month biofilm was the meristematic Dothideomycetes and the only phototrophs Ulothrix and Chlorella. Photovoltaic modules showed significant power reductions after 6, 12 (both 7%) and 18 (11%) months. The lack of difference in power reduction between 6 and 12 months reflects the dual nature of soiling, which can result from the deposition of particulates as well as from SAB fouling. Although 12-month old SAB demonstrated an almost 10-fold increase in fungal colonization and a higher organic content, the larger non-microbial particles (above 10 µm), which were important for efficiency reduction of lightly-biofilmed panels, were removed by high rainfall just before the 12-month sampling. KW - Sub-aerial biofilms KW - Energy production KW - Phototrophs KW - Fungi KW - Solar panels KW - Fouling KW - Biofilms KW - Photovoltaic module PY - 2015 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2015.03.050 SN - 0301-4797 SN - 1095-8630 VL - 157 SP - 160 EP - 167 PB - Elsevier Ltd. CY - Amsterdam AN - OPUS4-33107 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -