An experimental investigation of performance of photovoltaic modules in Pakistan

An outdoor experimental study was carried out to investigate and compare the performance of three commercially available photovoltaic modules (monocrystalline, polycrystalline and single junction amorphous silicon) under the weather of Pakistan for the month of January. Power output efficiency, module efficiency, and performance ratio are calculated for each module and comparison is presented. Results have shown that mono-crystalline and poly-crystalline modules perform better at high irradiance and show poor performance in low irradiance conditions. Amorphous solar module has shown better light absorption characteristic and performs better in low irradiance i.e. in cloudy and diffuse sunshine conditions. Monocrystalline photovoltaic module is found to be more efficient, having module efficiency of 13.5% which is higher than the other two modules. Furthermore the power output of mono-crystalline and poly-crystalline modules has shown a higher decrement at higher module temperatures compared to the amorphous solar module. Because of better performance in low solar irradiance, amorphous solar module has shown monthly average performance ratio of 1.07 which is higher than other photovoltaic modules under study.

[1]  Takashi Minemoto,et al.  Difference in the outdoor performance of bulk and thin-film silicon-based photovoltaic modules , 2009 .

[2]  A. Carr,et al.  A comparison of the performance of different PV module types in temperate climates , 2004 .

[3]  Rohit Pillai,et al.  Impact of dust on solar photovoltaic (PV) performance: Research status, challenges and recommendations , 2010 .

[4]  H. Grubin.  The physics of semiconductor devices , 1979, IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics.

[5]  D. Goossens,et al.  Aeolian dust deposition on photovoltaic solar cells: the effects of wind velocity and airborne dust concentration on cell performance , 1999 .

[6]  Kholid Akhmad,et al.  Outdoor performance of amorphous silicon and polycrystalline silicon PV modules , 1997 .

[7]  Jack L. Stone.  Photovoltaics: Unlimited Electrical Energy from the Sun , 1993 .

[8]  Muhammad Jahangir,et al.  Estimation of Solar Energy Potential for Islamabad, Pakistan , 2012 .

[9]  Nasir Ahmad,et al.  Status and outlook of solar energy use in Pakistan , 2003 .

[10]  C. Radue,et al.  A comparison of degradation in three amorphous silicon PV module technologies , 2010 .

[11]  E. E. van Dyk,et al.  Assessing the reliability and degradation of photovoltaic module performance parameters , 2004, IEEE Transactions on Reliability.

[12]  N. Amin,et al.  A practical field study of various solar cells on their performance in Malaysia , 2009 .

[13]  Chee Lim Nge,et al.  A qualitative examination of performance and energy yield of photovoltaic modules in southern Norway , 2010 .

[14]  Hai Jiang,et al.  Experimental investigation of the impact of airborne dust deposition on the performance of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules , 2011 .

[15]  Mohammed Sadok,et al.  Outdoor testing of photovoltaic arrays in the Saharan region , 2008 .

[16]  P. Akhter,et al.  CLEAR SKY SOLAR INSOLATION DATA FOR ISLAMABAD , 1991 .

[17]  Rizwan Raza,et al.  Renewable energy technologies in Pakistan: Prospects and challenges , 2009 .

[18]  F. Chenlo,et al.  Characterization of thin film PV modules under standard test conditions: Results of indoor and outdoor measurements and the effects of sunlight exposure , 2012 .

[19]  Peter N. Gorley,et al.  Photovoltaic solar cells performance at elevated temperatures , 2005 .

[20]  Sukhvir Singh,et al.  Temperature dependence of I–V characteristics and performance parameters of silicon solar cell , 2008 .

[21]  M. Castro,et al.  Application and validation of algebraic methods to predict the behaviour of crystalline silicon PV modules in Mediterranean climates , 2007 .