Parameters Estimation for a Model of Photovoltaic Panels

The paper describes the first results of a simulation and characterization tool useful to evaluate electrical performances of photovoltaic (PV) panels. A simple one-diode model is used in order to estimate the electrical parameters of a PV panel and predict how the I-V characteristic changes with environmental parameters such as temperature and irradiance. This work is part of a wider project whose final purpose is to model a whole PV plant in order to control its performances in various environmental conditions and maximize the energy production. The continuous monitoring of a plant and the comparison between real and expected data will also greatly reduce the risk of out of order. The used model is implemented as a MATLAB® script which yields the I-V and P-V characteristics of the PV panel under test. The model has been validated against an experimentally characterized PV panel. Some parameters of the model have been measured directly (irradiance and temperature) whereas others have been evaluated in two distinct ways: by means of direct computation on the data sheet or by means of best-fit on the measured data, and the results have been compared.