The efficiency and reliability of photovoltaic solar panels decreases with increasing operating temperatures. In hot, dry climates, evaporative cooling with a water mist may be used to decrease the operating temperature of the solar panel, providing a net increase in power produced and reliability. This invention is related to the addition of evaporative water misting to solar panels that are either currently deployed or will be deployed in the future. The evaporation from the surface of the solar arrays decreases the temperature of the semiconductor junction that converts the photons to electrical energy, which results in more efficient conversion of photons to electrical power. This may be especially effective in hot, dry climates or in arid countries where many solar panels are deployed.
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