Thin-Film Photovoltaic Modules Characterisation Based on <i>I-V</i> Measurements Under Outdoor Conditions
The characterisation of photovoltaic modules requires a specialised laboratory that guarantees precise control of irradiance and its spectrum and control of the module temperature during testing. As an alternative, characteristic parameters can be extracted from the measurements of the current-volta...
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2024-11-01
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author | Slawomir Gulkowski Ewelina Krawczak |
author_facet | Slawomir Gulkowski Ewelina Krawczak |
author_sort | Slawomir Gulkowski |
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description | The characterisation of photovoltaic modules requires a specialised laboratory that guarantees precise control of irradiance and its spectrum and control of the module temperature during testing. As an alternative, characteristic parameters can be extracted from the measurements of the current-voltage characteristics (<i>I-V</i> curves) carried out under outdoor conditions. This paper presents the results of the two commercial thin-film photovoltaic modules’ characterisation. The first analysed device was a cadmium telluride (CdTe) photovoltaic module fabricated on glass, while the second was the flexible copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) PV module. The main parameters of the PV modules were extracted based on the series of <i>I-V</i> curve measurements under real operating conditions in Poland with the use of the capacitor-based <i>I-V</i> tracer. Solar radiation together with the modules’ temperature were registered simultaneously with the <i>I-V</i> characterisation. Two approaches were proposed to estimate the main PV parameters at standard test conditions as output power, short circuit current or open circuit voltage. The difference in results of power for both approaches was below 1.5%. Energy, computed using the Osterwald model, was compared with the experimental measurements. The best results of absolute relative error (ARE) were found around 0.5% for both technologies. The lowest value of root mean squared error (RMSE) was 1.3% in terms of CdTe technology and 3.1% for CIGS. |
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id | doaj-art-ac2e2a7dba51456abf6d8523ac2de92b |
institution | Kabale University |
issn | 1996-1073 |
language | English |
publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
publisher | MDPI AG |
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series | Energies |
spelling | doaj-art-ac2e2a7dba51456abf6d8523ac2de92b2024-12-13T16:25:08ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732024-11-011723585310.3390/en17235853Thin-Film Photovoltaic Modules Characterisation Based on <i>I-V</i> Measurements Under Outdoor ConditionsSlawomir Gulkowski0Ewelina Krawczak1Department of Renewable Energy Engineering, Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Lublin University of Technology, Nadbystrzycka 40B, 20-618 Lublin, PolandDepartment of Renewable Energy Engineering, Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Lublin University of Technology, Nadbystrzycka 40B, 20-618 Lublin, PolandThe characterisation of photovoltaic modules requires a specialised laboratory that guarantees precise control of irradiance and its spectrum and control of the module temperature during testing. As an alternative, characteristic parameters can be extracted from the measurements of the current-voltage characteristics (<i>I-V</i> curves) carried out under outdoor conditions. This paper presents the results of the two commercial thin-film photovoltaic modules’ characterisation. The first analysed device was a cadmium telluride (CdTe) photovoltaic module fabricated on glass, while the second was the flexible copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) PV module. The main parameters of the PV modules were extracted based on the series of <i>I-V</i> curve measurements under real operating conditions in Poland with the use of the capacitor-based <i>I-V</i> tracer. Solar radiation together with the modules’ temperature were registered simultaneously with the <i>I-V</i> characterisation. Two approaches were proposed to estimate the main PV parameters at standard test conditions as output power, short circuit current or open circuit voltage. The difference in results of power for both approaches was below 1.5%. Energy, computed using the Osterwald model, was compared with the experimental measurements. The best results of absolute relative error (ARE) were found around 0.5% for both technologies. The lowest value of root mean squared error (RMSE) was 1.3% in terms of CdTe technology and 3.1% for CIGS.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/23/5853photovoltaic systemthin-film photovoltaics<i>I-V</i> characteristic measurementsoutdoor performancebuilding integrated photovoltaics |
spellingShingle | Slawomir Gulkowski Ewelina Krawczak Thin-Film Photovoltaic Modules Characterisation Based on <i>I-V</i> Measurements Under Outdoor Conditions Energies photovoltaic system thin-film photovoltaics <i>I-V</i> characteristic measurements outdoor performance building integrated photovoltaics |
title | Thin-Film Photovoltaic Modules Characterisation Based on <i>I-V</i> Measurements Under Outdoor Conditions |
title_full | Thin-Film Photovoltaic Modules Characterisation Based on <i>I-V</i> Measurements Under Outdoor Conditions |
title_fullStr | Thin-Film Photovoltaic Modules Characterisation Based on <i>I-V</i> Measurements Under Outdoor Conditions |
title_full_unstemmed | Thin-Film Photovoltaic Modules Characterisation Based on <i>I-V</i> Measurements Under Outdoor Conditions |
title_short | Thin-Film Photovoltaic Modules Characterisation Based on <i>I-V</i> Measurements Under Outdoor Conditions |
title_sort | thin film photovoltaic modules characterisation based on i i v i measurements under outdoor conditions |
topic | photovoltaic system thin-film photovoltaics <i>I-V</i> characteristic measurements outdoor performance building integrated photovoltaics |
url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/23/5853 |
work_keys_str_mv | AT slawomirgulkowski thinfilmphotovoltaicmodulescharacterisationbasedoniivimeasurementsunderoutdoorconditions AT ewelinakrawczak thinfilmphotovoltaicmodulescharacterisationbasedoniivimeasurementsunderoutdoorconditions |