Assessing different models to estimate photovoltaic monocrystalline modules operating temperature using weather data

Abstract

The efficiency of photovoltaic modules depends on the operating temperature of the cells. Currently it is difficult to choose a suitable model to estimate the temperature of the modules, due to the variety of proposed models. In this research, ten temperature estimation models of the modules were evaluated, based on three input variables: ambient temperature, irradiance and wind speed. For the modeling, in situ measurements were used, recorded for six months, by the 7.5 kWp monocrystalline silicon photovoltaic system and a climatological station of the Solar Energy Research Center of Santiago de Cuba. King et al (2004) was the model with the best accuracy criteria, with squared error, mean absolute error and coefficient of determination equal to 3.482 ºC, 2.698 ºC and 0.912, respectively. Finally, the effect of the operating temperature of the modules on the efficiency was simulated, obtaining useful information for future projects of photovoltaic systems in Cuba.

Keywords

• cell efficiency
• mathematical modeling
• module temperature estimation
• weather data of cuba