Generally, photovoltaic (PV) cell manufacturers provide technical information, at standard test conditions (STCs) and nominal operating cell temperature (NOCT) ratings. However, this information is not sufficient to accurately predict the module operations under dynamic weather. In this study, test is conducted under fluctuating irradiance conditions, provided by EN50530 test procedure, to evaluate the performance of multi crystalline silicon and thin-film PV cells. Particular attention is given to the influence that the level and the slope of irradiance change have on the energy yield of PV technologies. This analysis aimed at revealing the appropriate selection of PV technology for obtaining maximum power under dynamic weather conditions.

Issue Section:
Research Papers
Keywords:
Environment, Solar
Topics:
Irradiation (Radiation exposure), Performance evaluation, Photovoltaic cells, Silicon, Solar energy, Thin films, Temperature, Testing

References

1.
Kelly
,
N. A.
, and
Gibson
,
T. L.
,
2011
, “
Increasing the Solar Photovoltaic Energy Capture on Sunny and Cloudy Days
,”
Sol. Energy
,
85
(
1
), pp.
111
–
125
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
2.
Protogeropoulos
,
C.
,
Lonaris
,
I.
,
Petrocheilos
,
C.
,
Charitos
,
I.
, and
Martinac
,
I.
,
2010
, “
Performance Evaluation of Different PV Module Technologies in a Grid-Connected Pilot Project in Greece
,”
25th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference
, Valencia, Spain, Sept. 6–10, pp.
4601
–
4606
.
3.
Bhubaneswari
,
P.
,
Iniyan
,
S.
, and
Goicc
,
R.
,
2011
, “
A Review of Solar Photovoltaic Technologies
,”
Renewable Sustainable Energy Rev.
,
15
(3), pp.
1625
–
1636
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
4.
Kesler
,
S.
,
Kivrak
,
S.
,
Dincer
,
F.
,
Rustemli
,
S.
,
Karaaslan
,
M.
,
Unal
,
E.
, and
Erdiven
,
U.
,
2014
, “
The Analysis of PV Power Potential and System Installation in Manavgat, Turkey—A Case Study in Winter Season
,”
Renewable Sustainable Energy Rev.
,
31
, pp.
671
–
680
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
5.
Hunter
,
A.
,
David
,
L.
,
William
,
E.
,
Mark
,
W.
,
Brian
,
P.
, and
Kratochvil
,
J. A.
,
2006
, “
Comparison of Photovoltaic Module Performance Measurements
,”
ASME J. Sol. Energy Eng.
,
128
(
2
), pp.
152
–
159
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
6.
Breteque
,
E. A.
,
2009
, “
Thermal Aspects of c-Si Photovoltaic Module Energy Rating
,”
Sol. Energy
,
83
(
9
), pp.
1425
–
1433
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
7.
Akhmad
,
K.
,
Kitamura
,
A.
,
Yamamoto
,
F.
,
Okamoto
,
H.
,
Takakura
,
H.
, and
Hamakawa
,
Y.
,
1997
, “
Outdoor Performance of a-Si and p-Si Modules
,”
Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells
,
46
(
3
), pp.
209
–
218
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
8.
Mieke
,
W.
,
1998
, “
Hot Climate Performance Comparison Between Poly-Crystalline and Amorphous Silicon Cells Connected to an Utility Mini-Grid
,”
36th Annual Conference of the Australian and New Zealand Solar Energy Society
, Christchurch, New Zealand, Nov. 25–27, pp.
464
–
470
.
9.
Tripathi
,
B.
,
Yadav
,
P.
,
Rathod
,
S.
, and
Kumar
,
M.
,
2014
, “
Performance Analysis and Comparison of Two Silicon Material Based Photovoltaic Technologies Under Actual Climatic Conditions in Western India
,”
Energy Convers. Manage.
,
80
, pp.
97
–
102
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
10.
Gottschalg
,
R.
,
Betts
,
T. R.
,
Eeles
,
A.
,
Williams
,
S. R.
, and
Zhu
,
J.
,
2013
, “
Influences on the Energy Delivery of Thin Film Photovoltaic Modules
,”
Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells
,
119
, pp.
169
–
180
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
11.
Li
,
D. H. W.
,
Cheung
,
G. H. W.
, and
Lam
,
J. C.
,
2005
, “
Analysis of the Operational Performance and Efficiency Characteristic for Photovoltaic System in Hong Kong
,”
Energy Convers. Manage.
,
46
(
7–8
), pp.
1107
–
1118
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
12.
Brundlinger
,
R.
,
Henze
,
N.
,
Haberlin
,
H.
,
Burger
,
B.
,
Bergmann
,
A.
, and
Baumgartner
,
F.
,
2009
, “
prEN50530—The New European Standard for Performance Characterization of PV Inverters
,”
24th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference
(
EU PVSEC
), Hamburg, Germany, Sept. 21–25, pp.
3105
–
3109
.
13.
Jiang
,
J. A.
,
Wang
,
J. C.
,
Kuo
,
K. C.
,
Su
,
Y. L.
,
Shieh
,
J. C.
, and
Chou
,
J. J.
,
2012
, “
Analysis of the Junction Temperature and Thermal Characteristics of Photovoltaic Modules Under Various Operation Conditions
,”
Energy
,
44
(
1
), pp.
292
–
301
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
14.
Andrejasic
,
T.
,
Jankovec
,
M.
, and
Topic
,
M.
,
2011
, “
Comparison of Direct Maximum Power Point Tracking Algorithms Using EN50530 Dynamic Test Procedure
,”
IET Renewable Power Gener.
,
5
(
4
), pp.
281
–
286
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
15.
Zegaoui
,
A.
,
Aillerie
,
M.
,
Petit
,
P.
,
Sawicki
,
J. P.
,
Charles
,
J. P.
, and
Belarbi
,
A. W.
,
2011
, “
Dynamic Behaviour of PV Generator Trackers Under Irradiation and Temperature Changes
,”
Sol. Energy
,
85
(
11
), pp.
2953
–
2964
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
16.
Ye
,
J. Y.
,
Ding
,
K.
,
Reindl
,
T.
, and
Aberle
,
A. G.
,
2013
, “
Outdoor PV Module Performance Under Fluctuating Irradiance Conditions in Tropical Climates
,”
Energy Procedia
,
33
, pp.
238
–
247
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
17.
D'Souza
,
N. S.
,
Lopes
,
L. A. C.
, and
Liu
,
X.
,
2005
, “
An Intelligent Maximum Power Point Tracker Using Peak Current Control
,”
IEEE 36th Power Electronics Specialists Conference
(
PESC’05
),
Recife
,
Brazil
, June 16, pp.
172
–
177
.
Copyright © 2016 by ASME
You do not currently have access to this content.