DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

Renewable Energy Systems

Lab

Experiment No: 01
Identify and measure the parameters of a Solar PV Module

NAME :………………………………………………

ROLL No. :………………..

DATE:…………….
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Aim
Aim
To identify and measure the parameters of a Solar PV Module

Objective
Objective
 Identify the cells and technology used in PV module
 To measure the current‐voltage (I‐V) characteristics of a PV module
 Measuring or estimating various parameters including Short Circuit Current (ISC),
Open Circuit Voltage (VOC), Fill Factor (FF), Maximum power (Pm), Series
Resistance (RS), Shunt Resistance (Rsh) and efficiency (η) of a solar PV module.

Apparatus
Apparatus
Sr No Unit Rating Qty
1 SPV Module 10 Watt 1
2 DC Voltmeter Range 0-50 V DC 1
3 DC Ammeter Range 0-2 A DC 1
For varying load to PV
4 Rheostat module, 0 to 200 Ω, 2.5 1
A
Digital multimeter, able
to measure DC current
5 Multimeter 1
(up to 10 A) and voltage
(up to 200 V)
Connecting wires (multi‐
6
stranded)

Theory
Theory
About PV modules: A solar cell produces small power, in range of less than a watt to few
Watts. But for our applications we need the power in tens of Watts, kilowatts and sometime
megawatts. Therefore, in order to generate larger power using solar cells, many solar cells are
connected together to make a PV module. A solar PV module comes in various power ratings,
ranging from few watts to few hundred watts. The most common technology for solar PV
modules uses crystalline Si solar cells. The crystalline Si solar cells are fabricated using two
types of crystalline Si wafers (1) mono‐crystalline and (2) multicrystalline. The mono‐
crystalline Si solar cells are either circular in shape of pseudo‐square, while the multi‐
crystalline Si cells are normally square or rectangular. Due to their shape the solar PV
modules made using mono‐crystalline cell have empty space between the cells while the
solar PV modules made using multi‐crystalline Si cells will be tightly packed and will not
have empty space between the cells.

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The crystalline Si solar cell technology is known as first generation solar cell technology.
There is also a second generation solar cell technology which include CdTe (cadmium
telluride), CIGS (copper indium gallium sellenide) and a‐Si (amorphous Si). These second
generation technologies are also referred as thin film technologies. These technologies are
also commercially available. The PV modules that are made using crystalline Si appears
bluish in colour and also have thin metal contact lines (appear white) on the top. These metal
contact lines are separated by few mm. In case of thin film solar PV modules these visible
metal contacts are not there, because instead of metals, transparent oxides are used to make
metal contacts. The colours of thin film PV module can be dark grey. PV modules of different types
are shown in Figure

Fig. Different types of solar PV modules

Various parameters of a solar module:
The Current‐Voltage relationship of a solar PV module can be given by following equation:

Where IL is current generated due to light, Rs is series resistance of PV modules, n is ideality

factor, Io is reverse saturation current, T is temperature and k is the Boltzman constant.
The various parameters of a solar PV module includes Short Circuit Current (ISC), Open
Circuit Voltage (VOC), Fill Factor (FF), Efficiency (η), Peak Power (Pm), Series Resistance
(Rs) and Shunt Resistance (Rsh).

Figure : Current‐voltage (I‐V) curve of a solar PV module

Short Circuit Current:
Short circuit current ISC is the maximum current produced by a solar PV module when its
Terminals are shorted
Mostly Isc = IL

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Open Circuit Voltage:

Open circuit voltage VOC is the maximum voltage that can be obtained from a solar PV
Module when its terminals are left open

Maximum power
This is defined as the maximum power (Pmax or Pm) output of a PV module under standard
test condition (STC), which corresponds to 1000 W/m2 and 25oC cell temperature in PV
module. Under the STC the power output of a PV module is maximum; therefore it is also
referred as peak power or Watt (peak) or Wp. This is given as product of Vm and Im.

Fill Factor:
The Fill Factor (FF) is defined as the squareness of the I‐V curve and mainly related to the
resistive losses in a solar module. It can be defined as the ratio of actual maximum power
output to the ideal maximum power output. In ideal case, its value can be 100%
corresponding to square I‐V curve. But it is not feasible to have square I‐V. There are always
some losses which reduces the value of FF. The best value of FF that can be obtained for a
solar module can empirically be written as a function of VOC

The Fill Factor (FF) of a PV module can also be is actually the area under the I‐V curve. It is
given in percentage.

Efficiency:
The module efficiency is written as:

Where, Pin is the input power. The efficiency is given in %. Normally efficiency of a PV
module is specified at Standard Test Condition (STC), which is corresponding to input power
density of 1000 W/m2 and 25oC cell temperature in PV module.

Series Resistance:
The series resistance is the sum of resistances due to all the components that come in the path
of current. This includes the base, emitter, semiconductor‐metal contact resistance and
resistance of metal contact. It is desirable to have the value of series resistance as low as
possible. The effect of series resistance is to reduce the Fill Factor and hence efficiency of PV
modules. The effect of series resistance on PV module characteristics is shown in Figure

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Figure: The effect of Series Resistance. In this case the R4 > R3 >R2 > R1 > Ro

Shunt Resistance:
The shunt resistance is due to the leakage across the P‐N junction. It could be due to a shunt
around the periphery of cell or due to the crystal defect or precipitates of impurities in the
junction region. It is desirable to have the value of shunt resistance as high as possible. The
effect of series resistance is to reduce the Fill Factor and hence efficiency of PV modules.
The effect of shunt resistance on the PV module characteristics is shown in Figure

Figure: The effect of Shunt Resistance. In this case R1 < R2 < R3 < Rinf

Procedure
Procedure
Methodology for Measurements:
In order to find out various current‐voltage points of PV module, resistances (R) of different
values must be connected with PV module. For these variable resistance requirements a
rheostat is used. In the diagram below, the solid line is I‐V curve of solar PV module and
dotted lines are the I‐V curve of various resistances. The slope of the I‐V curve of resistances
decreases with increase in value of resistance. In the diagram below the following is correct:
R1 < R2 < R3 < R4 < R5. The inter‐section of the two curves provides the operating point
(current point and voltage point). These operating points can be measured using ammeter and

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voltmeter and can be plotted. Before doing the connections, the open circuit voltage (VOC) is
to be measured by connecting voltmeter across PV Modules’ terminals (without connecting
any load or rheostat). Same way, the Short circuit current (ISC) is to be measured by
connecting ammeter in series to the PV module (without connect any other load). Note down
the values of VOC and ISC.

Figure: Finding various points on current‐voltage curve of solar PV module.

Here R1 < R2 < R3 < R4 <R5.
Now, in order to find out current versus voltage characteristic of a Solar PV module, the
connections are to be made as per the given connection diagram, After connecting load
(rheostat) to the PV module, set the rheostat to get low resistance value. In this position
measure the current and voltage and note down in the copy. Now slightly increase the
resistance of rheostat by moving the knob. This new position of the knob of rheostat will give
new value of current and voltage, note the reading. Increase the resistance again and note the
reading, continue this till you reach to the highest value of resistance in the rheostat. The
tabulated I‐V points can be plotted in the X‐Y curve taking voltage on the X‐axis and current
on the Y‐axis. In this way one can plot the I‐V Characteristics curve of a solar PV module.

Measurements:
The figure below shows the connection diagram for the experiment. The single PV Module
Output terminals (+ve and –ve) are shown in the Figure. Ammeter is connected in series and
voltmeter is connected in parallel to the Solar PV Module. Rheostat is used as the load on the
Solar PV Module.

Figure: Connection diagram to find out current versus voltage characteristics of a single
Solar PV Module

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Using the above set up note down your observations

Observations
Observations

Voc =

ISC =

Resistance Voltage (V) Current (I) Power

Sr. No.
(Ω) Volts Amp (Watt)=V*I

1
2
3
4
5

Plot-Current‐Voltage (I‐V) graph

Power‐Voltage (P‐V) graph:

Conclusion
Conclusion