Visual Deep Learning-Based Soiling Detection on Photovoltaic Panels with Inverter-Level Energy Validation and Sustainability-Aware Cleaning Decision Support

Surface anomalies such as dust accumulation and bird droppings on photovoltaic (PV) panels can significantly reduce their energy production and lead to inefficient maintenance decisions. This paper proposes a vision-based deep learning framework for the automatic detection of PV panel surface conditions and validates the detected anomalies using real inverter-level energy production data. Unlike conventional studies focusing solely on detection performance, the proposed approach introduces a unified and physically interpretable framework that directly links image-based anomaly detection with inverter-level energy performance and decision-oriented PV maintenance. An EfficientNetB3-based model is trained using a two-stage transfer learning strategy on a publicly available Kaggle dataset and evaluated using standard classification metrics. The trained model is then deployed and validated at a 1 MW solar power plant located at Karaman, Türkiye. Classification results obtained from field images are systematically linked with inverter-associated hourly energy production measurements. Following panel cleaning and natural rainfall, an approximately 12.5% increase in inverter-level hourly energy production is observed for the analyzed PV group (120 panels, ~270 Wp), corresponding to an increase from 23.2 to 26.1 kWh. In addition, the study introduces an energy–water–sustainability-aware cleaning decision framework tailored for arid and semi-arid regions where water scarcity and deep groundwater extraction present critical constraints. The framework defines a quantitative decision rule in which panel cleaning is performed only when the expected recoverable energy exceeds the energy cost of water extraction and cleaning. Overall, the proposed approach enables accurate surface anomaly detection while supporting sustainability-aware, resource-efficient and data-driven maintenance decisions for PV power plant operation.