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Performance Study of Monocrystalline, Polycrystalline, and Thin-film Solar PV

Modules in the Egyptian Environment

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Performance Study of Monocrystalline, Polycrystalline, and Thin-film Solar PV
Modules in the Egyptian Environment
A. Sherif M. Hassaan, B. Adel A. El Samhay, C. Ayman E. Haggag
A,C
Electronics Technology Department, Faculty of Technology and Education, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt
B
Electrical Power & Machines Department, Faculty of Engineering, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt
Sherif.Elsayed.32@h-eng.helwan.edu.eg, A.elsamahy@h‐eng.helwan.edu.eg, haggag@techedu.helwan.edu.eg, 

Abstract not have or have limited access to it [1]. Much of this

Electricity generation from the sun, the most important energy comes from fossil fuels like gas, coal, and oil, all
renewable energy source, has significant environmental, of which contribute to greenhouse gas emissions
health, and economic benefits. As a result, many countries Many countries are concerned about reducing their
intend to invest heavily in improving this technology and reliance on fossil fuels, so many of them have chosen to
constructing more solar power plants. Environmental use renewable energies to ensure energy supplies while
conditions (such as temperature, humidity, solar radiation, also contributing to lower carbon monoxide and carbon
and dust concentration) can, however, cause issues when dioxide emissions, which are responsible for global
establishing these stations, resulting in a significant warming, and thus contributing to mitigating the effects of
reduction in the amount of energy that can be generated. climate change [2].
The current investigation is centered on the behavior of Solar photovoltaic (PV) technology has grown
photovoltaic modules under real-world operating exponentially in recent years, owing to falling costs and
conditions. Over the course of a year, various inefficiencies in traditional energy sources. continuous
photovoltaic module technologies such as enhancement Solar photovoltaics (PV) are now available.
monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and thin-film were production, level of emissions, and long life (about 20 to
tested under identical operating conditions: autonomous 25 years). It has recently been recognized as a viable
systems with comparable energy conversion capabilities, energy source in countries such as Egypt, which has a very
the same electric load, and similar data acquisition high potential for this type of renewable energy due to its
systems.in the Egyptian Region, under the same weather geographical location [3].
conditions The conversion efficiency for each module in Solar cells are devices that convert photons into direct
each environment was calculated using temperature, current (DC) electrical energy. They are made of thin
humidity, solar irradiance, power, and the I-V operation silicon films and produce voltages ranging from 0.5 to 1.5
point. parameters. The operating parameters and volts. Solar cell efficiency varies depending on
environmental conditions of monocrystalline, manufacturing technology. used.
polycrystalline, and thin-film technology are compared in Monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and thin-film silicon are
this paper. the most common, with efficiencies ranging from about 13%
to 23%. Solar modules are manufactured and tested under
Keywords: Types of Photovoltaic solar cells; Egyptian Standard Test Conditions (STC), which include a solar
Environment irradiance of 1,000 W/m2, an ambient temperature of 25°C,
and an air mass of 1.5. These conditions, however, are not
Nomenclature met because the actual conditions are dependent on the
geographical location where they are installed, and their
PV Photovoltaic
efficiency is affected by weather and climatic conditions
IOC Open-Circuit Current
[4].
VOC Open-Circuit Voltage
The energy performance of three PV module technologies
STC Standard Test Conditions
commonly used in solar power installations in Egypt and
AC Alternating Current
commercially available in the Egyptian market is
DC Direct Current
compared in this paper: monocrystalline, polycrystalline,
DNI Direct Normal Irradiance
and thin-film silicon. The variables under consideration
are temperature, humidity, and radiation. For
1. INTRODUCTION approximately the Tested were held at Heliopolis
Currently, up to 8 billion people have access to electricity University 3 Cairo - Belbeis Desert Road for about a year.
worldwide; however, approximately 1 billion people do
2. BACKGROUND the manufacturer discovered that it falls short in terms of
Since PV cells are tested in lab settings, their performance performance. Operation of the unit in outdoor conditions.
is strongly influenced by the climatic conditions they are However, much of the previous research of the four
exposed to (using STC). However, these conditions differ authors was suppressed. Because of the extra lengths, only
from those at the installation site, which leads to open circuit and short circuit conditions are compared, and
underperformance due to changes in environmental are common lab tests. It is necessary to evaluate the
conditions such as radiation, temperature, and humidity performance of solar cells in real world conditions, i.e.,
[5]. As a result, knowledge and understanding of the climatic conditions under the site or installation site and
performance of the PV module under the operating load variations that can affect the output voltage.
conditions at the installation site is critical to the correct
selection of solar module technology. Several studies have 3. Effect of Temperature on PV Power
been conducted to determine how weather conditions Stations
affect PV modules. It was concluded that the thin-film To study the best place for the solar city in Egypt let
technology is the most efficient when compared to other us study two major topics the first is the temperature
techniques, but it collapses quickly, unlike the other
effect on PV and the second is the average annual
monocrystalline and polycrystalline types.
There are two types of crystals: monocrystalline and climate map of Egypt
polycrystalline. A comparison was made between more PV General Model
than three solar cell technologies, in addition to studying To develop a mathematical model the PV cell with the
the operation of polycrystalline, monocrystalline, and temperature two factors have to be determined they are
thin-film photovoltaic systems under the same climatic current and voltage
conditions. 𝑉
𝐼𝑑 𝐼0 𝑒𝑥𝑝 1
Temperature is an important parameter in the performance 𝑉
of a photovoltaic cell, according to several studies. [6] [7].
Elevated temperatures reduce the performance of solar 𝑉 . 𝑛𝐼. 𝑁
cells by causing voltage drops. The effect of ambient 8.a PV cell Equivalent Circuit
temperature on the performance of PV modules was
investigated in the tropics, and it was discovered that there
is a proportional relationship between ambient
temperature and PV module power output. The solar panel
module [8][9] checks other crucial factors that affect the
operation of the PV module, such as ambient temperature
and dust accumulation. These works emphasize the
importance of conservation in desert areas. Dust and
particle buildup can degrade the performance of solar
modules. Wind speed is another factor in the research that
provides some temperature models with energy scales that
take into account ambient temperature, radiation, and wind 8.b. PV cell Simulink Model
speed. Many studies of the behavior of solar modules take
into account variables such as radiation, temperature, and
humidity. When comparing the polycrystalline and
monocrystalline technologies, the results revealed a direct
relationship between the current generated and the crystal
size. On the other hand, the voltage decreases with
increasing temperature due to modules, radiation, and
temperature independence. Other studies, like this one,
show that PVSOL is part of the program that lets you
compare different photovoltaic technologies. Modeling
and simulation tests used polycrystalline, monocrystalline, Figure 8. The equivalent circuit of the PV cell and its
and thin-film materials, as well as meteorological data Simulink diagram
from the NASA database; The results showed that
polycrystalline was the best geographic location technique The PV cell I-V properties for a single cell are
for the installation. Barbosa Janet [10] suggested that the determined by the relations
thesis conduct a comparative study between Where:
monocrystalline and polycrystalline. Id PV cell current (A)
Polycrystalline technologies except for similar behavior Vd PV cell voltage (V)
under open circuit conditions, there have been no I0 PV cell saturation current (A)
conclusive results regarding which of the two technologies nI PV cell ideality factor, a number close to 1.0
performs better in terms of energy efficiency. On the other k Boltzman constant = 1.3806e-23 J.K-1
hand, Martínez Raúl [11] conducted an efficiency study of q Electron charge = 1.6022e-19 C
PV modules in Bogota, considering climatic changes such T PV cell temperature (K)
as temperature, humidity, and radiation, and discovered Ncell Number of cells connected in series in a
that monocrystalline modules perform better. However, module
Temperature Effect on PV γ Constant
To study the effect of the temperature on the performance 3 incorporate the possible temperature
of the PV cells we study the open circuit voltage and the dependencies of the other material parameters
short circuit current under the change of temperature. In Open Circuit Voltage VOC
PV cells, the factor most impacted by an increase in The effect of I0 current on the open-circuit voltage can be
temperature is the open circuit voltage. The impact of determined by substituting the relation of I0 into the
increasing temperature is shown in the figure below. formula for Voc as presented by;
𝐾𝑇 𝐼 𝐾𝑇
Figure 10. PV cell characteristics 𝑉 𝐼𝑛 𝐼𝑛 𝐼 𝐼𝑛 𝐼
𝑞 𝐼 𝑞
𝐾𝑇
𝐼𝑛 𝐼
𝑞
𝐾𝑇 𝑞𝑉
𝐼𝑛 𝐵 𝑇 𝑒𝑥𝑝
𝑞 𝑘𝑇
𝐾𝑇 𝑞𝑉
𝐼𝑛 𝐼 𝐼𝑛𝐵 γInT
𝑞 𝑘𝑇
where EG0 = qVG0. Considering dVoc/dT does not rely on
dIsc/dT, dVoc/dT could be calculated by.
𝑑𝑉 𝑉 𝑉 𝑘
γ
𝑑𝑇 𝑇 𝑞

In case of silicon, EG0 is 1.2, and employing γ of 3 results

a decrement of the open circuit voltage of approximately
2.2 mV/°C;
𝑘
𝑑𝑉 𝑉 𝑉 γ
Figure 9. PV cell characteristics 𝑞
𝑑𝑇 𝑇
The open-circuit voltage decreases with temperature
because of the temperature dependence of I0. The equation Short Circuit Current ISC
for I0 from one side of a p-n junction is given by. The short-circuit current, Isc, raises moderately
𝐷𝑛 𝑖 proportionally based on temperature for a silicon PV cell
𝐼 𝑞𝐴
𝐿𝑁 is calculated by;
Where: 1 𝑑𝐼
q electronic charge constant 0.00062𝑚𝑉𝑝𝑒𝑟℃ 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑠𝑖
𝐼 𝑑𝑇
A area or 0.06% per °C for silicon.
D diffusivity of the minority carrier of silicon Temperature dependency FF of silicon is calculated by
L minority carrier diffusion length the formula.
ND doping 1 𝑑𝐹𝐹 1 𝑑𝑉 1
ni intrinsic carrier concentration 0.0015 𝑝𝑒𝑟℃ 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑠𝑖
𝐹𝐹 𝑑𝑇 𝑉 𝑑𝑇 𝑇
The impact of temperature on the max. output power Pm,
The relation of the intrinsic carrier concentration is is given by.
described by. 1 𝑑𝑃 1 𝑑𝑉 1 𝑑𝐹𝐹 1 𝑑𝐼
2𝜋𝑘𝑇 𝐸 𝑃
𝑛 4 𝑚∗ 𝑚∗ / exp 𝑃 𝑑𝑇 𝑉 𝑑𝑇 𝐹𝐹 𝑑𝑇 𝐼 𝑑𝑇
ℎ 𝑘𝑇
𝐸 0.004 𝑡𝑜0.005 𝑝𝑒𝑟℃ 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑠𝑖
𝐵𝑇 𝑒𝑥𝑝 or 0.4% to 0.5% for every 1 degree Celsius °C for
𝑘𝑇
where: silicon.The overall Simulink model of the solar city PV
T temperature system is presented in figure 10.
h and k constants
me and effective masses of electrons and holes
mh
EGO bandgap linearly extrapolated to absolute
zero
B constant which is essentially independent of
temperature
Substituting these relations into the formula of the output
current I0, and considering that the temperature
coefficients of the other factors can be eliminated, so;
𝐷 𝐸 𝐸
𝐼 𝑞𝐴 𝐵𝑇 exp 𝐵 𝑇 exp
𝐿𝑁 𝑘𝑇 𝑘𝑇
Where: Figure 10. The overall Simulink model of the solar
B' temperature independent constant city PV system
A Constant used instead of the number 3
4. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
The open-circuit voltage decreases with temperature
because of the temperature dependence, see section 3.
The aim of this research is to study the effect of
environmental conditions on the performance of
photovoltaic energy systems in Egyptian countries. And
comparing the types of photovoltaic panels in different
governorates. It also aims to derive an empirical model for
the environmental impact of photovoltaic energy, to
understand the factors that affect the use of photovoltaic
energy with a model of environmental impact,
5. EGYPT'S CLIMATE
Egypt is characterized by a hot desert climate (Köppen
climate classification BWh). Except for the northern
Mediterranean coast, which receives winter rainfall, the
country's climate is generally extremely dry. In addition to
the rarity of rain, Egypt experiences extreme heat during
the summer months, though daytime temperatures are
more moderated along the northern coast.
5.1. Sun
The length of the day in Cairo varies significantly
throughout the year. The shortest day in 2022 is December
21, when there are 10 hours and 13 minutes of daylight;
the longest day is June 21, when there are 14 hours and 5
minutes of daylight.
The earliest sunrise is at 4:53 a.m. on June 11, and the
latest sunrise is at 6:52 a.m. on January 10. The earliest
sunset occurs at 4:54 PM on December 3, and the latest
sunset occurs 2 hours, 6 minutes later July 1 at 7:00 PM.
In Cairo, no daylight-saving time (DST) is observed in
2022.[12].
5.2. Clouds
The average percentage of the sky covered by clouds in
Cairo varies significantly seasonally throughout the year.
Cairo's clearer season begins around May 24 20. In Cairo,
August is the clearest month of the year, with the sky clear,
mostly clear, or partly cloudy 99 percent of the time.
The cloudier season starts around October 20 and lasts 7.1
months, ending around May 24.
The cloudiest month of the year in Cairo is December
when the sky is overcast or mostly cloudy 27% of the
time.[13].
5.3. Humidity
The dew point determines whether perspiration evaporates
from the skin, cooling the body. Lower dew points feel
drier, while higher dew points feel more humid. Unlike
temperature, which typically varies significantly between
night and day, dew point tends to change more slowly, so
while the temperature may drop at night, a muggy day is
usually followed by a muggy night.
The perceived humidity in Cairo varies greatly throughout
the year.
The muggier season lasts 3.9 months, from June 16 to
October 13, and the comfort level is muggy, oppressive,
or miserable at least 16% of the time. August is the
month with the hottest days in Cairo, with 19.4 days of
muggy weather or worse.
In Cairo, January has the fewest muggy days, with 0.0
days that are muggy or worse. [14].
5.4. Wind
The prevailing northwesterly wind from the
Mediterranean Sea blows continuously over the northern
coast without the interposition of a mountain range,
greatly reducing temperatures throughout the year.
Because of the effect, average low temperatures in the
winter range from 9.5 °C (49.1 °F) to 23 °C (73.4 °F) in
the summer, and average high temperatures range from
17 °C (62.6 °F) in the winter to 32 °C (89.6 °F) in the
summer. Though temperatures are moderated along the
coasts, the situation changes in the interior, which is not
influenced by the moderating northerly winds. Thus,
nighttime temperatures in the central and southern parts
are extremely high, particularly during the summer, when
average high temperatures can exceed 40 °C (104 °F), as
in In Egypt's deserts, you can visit Aswan, Luxor, Asyut,
or Sohag. [15].
5.5. Storms of sand
The Nile after the March 2020 dragon storm
From March to May each year, an extremely hot, dry, and
dusty wind blows from the south or southwest. This wind
is known as khamsin. When a continuous flow of dry air
blows over vast desert regions, it picks up fine sand and
dust particles, resulting in a dusty wind that is generally
felt on the desert's outskirts. When this wind blows over
Egypt, the temperature rises to dangerously high levels,
usually above 45 °C (113 °F), and the relative humidity
falls below 5%. The khamsin is responsible for sudden,
early heat waves and Egypt's absolute highest temperature
records.[16].
5.6. Rainfall
The annual average precipitation in Egypt ranges between
20 mm (0.79 in) and 200 mm (7.87 in) along the narrow
Mediterranean coast, but south of Cairo, the average drops
to nearly 0 millimeters (0.00 inches). Alexandria and
Rafah have the most cloudy and rainy days. The duration
of sunshine is high throughout Egypt, ranging from a low
of 3,300 hours along the northernmost part in places like
Alexandria to a high of over 4,000 hours farther in the
interior, in most of the country. [17].
5.7. Mountainous terrain
Because of their high elevations, some mountainous areas
in Sinai, such as Saint Catherine, have cooler night
temperatures. Snow usually falls in the Sinai Mountains,
but it almost never falls in Giza, Cairo, or Alexandria. For
example, for the first time since 1901, Cairo received a
single overnight snowfall in December 2013. [18].
6. RELATED WORKS
The performance of PV power systems is affected by
several parameters including environmental conditions.
There are several studies in the field of environmental
conditions such as ambient temperature, dust
accumulation, humidity, wind speed, etc. Herein we
review some of them. In [19], Kaldellis and Kokala
produced an experimental analysis which was conducted
in laboratory soft energy application and environmental
protection to determine the effect of pollution on the
energy performance of PV-panels quantitatively. In [20],
Majid investigated that the efficiency of PV cells
decreases by 0.485% per 1°C, after the surface
temperature increase than 25°C. In [21], Muhammed
presented the effect of dust accumulation on the power
outputs of solar photovoltaic modules. It was concluded
that a power decrease of more than 50% can be
experienced for solar PV modules if modules are left
unclean for a period of over six months. It is also
concluded that the solar tracker improves power output
and helps to reduce the dust accumulation effect by 50%
at an off-peak time. In [22], Kaldellis introduced an
experimental study to determine the reduction in
efficiency of photovoltaics due to deposition of natural air
pollution on the PV panels, where they concluded that the
efficiency has been decreased by 0.4% per month when it
is exposed to outdoor without cleaning. In [30], Dincer
studied many factors' effects on solar cell efficiencies such
as changing cell temperature, using
maximum power point tracking (MPPT) with solar cells,
and energy conservation efficiency for solar cells. In [23],
Bhattacharya introduced a statistical analysis method to
determine the effect of ambient temperature and wind
speed on the performance of the photovoltaic model. In
[24], Tianhe presented new technologies to improve the
conversion efficiency of the PV model and reduce its cost
of it [25]. Rajput studied the effect of environmental dust
on power production by PV experimentally, and they
obtain that the power production was reduced by 92.11%
[26]. Suleiman provided an experimental study by using
different obstruction materials conducted under controlled
conditions using a spotlight substitute for sunlight, The
result which was obtained from external resistance could
reduce the efficiency by 85% [27].
In [28], Hassan Qasem studied the effect of accumulated
dust on the performance of photovoltaic modules (Kuwait)
in this work the focus is on explaining the effect of dust,
and how it affects different PV technologies. The approach
used in this thesis involves investigating the effect of dust
by means of simulation and comparing the current density
short circuit current of different technologies under dust
concentration to identify the effect of dust concentration
on PV performance. The second part of this research
involves developing a spatially resolved model, where
various scenarios will be used to simulate homogeneous
and non-homogeneous dust accumulation
on the PV module for the purpose of finding the worst-
case scenario. The third part involves outdoor
measurements, where data obtained from PV modules
installed in Kuwait is used to determine the energy
comparison between cleaned and non-cleared PV modules
for the purpose of identifying the effect of dust on the array
yield. In addition to that, scheduled thermal images are
taken to investigate the possibility of hot spots and non-
uniform heat distribution in the PV model. In [29], Zorrilla
presented an Analysis of dust losses caused by the
accumulation of dust on the surface of photovoltaic
modules to quantify losses caused by the accumulation of
dust on the surface of photovoltaic modules. This result
showed that the mean of the daily energy loss over a year
caused by dust deposited on the surface of the PV module
is around 4.4%. In long periods without rain, daily energy
losses can be higher than 20%. In addition, the irradiance
losses are not constant throughout the day and are strongly
dependent on the sunlight incident angle and the ratio
between diffuse and direct radiations, in this system a
regular cleaning of the modules should be necessary
although increasing maintenance costs. In [30], M.
Piliougine, described in dry areas, the losses of output
power due to dust accumulation could reach 15% of
maximum power. In this case, the solution to decrease
these losses is to clean the modules with water. In large-
scale photovoltaic plants, this task is very expensive,
especially in those areas with water shortages.
Naveed Hajjdadi studied the short-term performance of
different PV technologies and climatic conditions in
Tehran in this paper, a short-term evaluation of the
performance of various photovoltaic (PV) power plants in
Tehran city is presented. Comparisons were made
considering different levels of radiation and air
temperature. Three photovoltaic technologies were
compared in terms of energy production. Moreover, a
comparison of the same technology but from different PV
brands is provided. Finally, since Tehran suffers from air
pollution, especially during the winter season, [31],
In Bolivia, Chile, and Germany, Lionel Classing et al.
investigated and evaluated the performance of various
connected networks Photovoltaic system technologies.
The primary goal of this research is to compare and
analyze different PV system performances in Bolivia,
Chile, and Germany under various climate conditions such
as solar irradiation and ambient temperature. The PV
systems studied in Chile enable a comparison of
polycrystalline silicon (p-Si), monocrystalline silicon (m-
Si), and copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) solar cell
technologies. In addition, four PV-strings with different
inverter configurations are used to compare the
performance of high to low-power inverters and
undersized to oversized inverters. The monthly average
daily final yield, capacity factor, performance ratio, and
self-sufficiency ratio of the evaluated PV systems are all
included in the analysis. the highest level of performance
the overall operation time was determined with 89 percent
using a combination of oversized inverter and CIGS-cells.
Average overall PV system performance ratios in Bolivia,
Chile, and Germany were determined to be 83 percent, 87
percent, and 69 percent, respectively, for the analyzed time
periods in 2015 and 2017. Overall, optimal operating
conditions result in a solar coverage ratio of 1.16 in
Bolivia and 0.53 in Chile. The climate conditions of the
various countries are one of the key factors for the
performance of a PV system, as demonstrated by the
findings of this paper. [32],
Hossam El-Din et al. They analyze the performance of
different PV modules in different locations in Egypt
This study investigated experimentally and theoretically
the effects of ambient air temperature on the performance
of thin-film photovoltaic (PV) panels under real outdoor
conditions at different sites in Egypt. By predicting the
theoretical study of the performance of different
photovoltaic panels technologies (thin films,
monocrystalline, polycrystalline) in different metrological
conditions in different locations within Egypt
Solar panel data as stated by the manufacturer cannot be
relied upon for external performance. The results of the
theoretical model were compared with the experimental
values and there is good agreement. Theoretical results
show that the array of crystalline PV panels (mono-
crystalline and polycrystalline) is more affected by
ambient air dry-bulb temperature rather than thin-film PV
panels. [33],
Ghanim thiab hasan et al. comparative analysis between
actual and estimated measurements for solar system
according to Tikrit climate conditions
The aim of this research is to investigate the extent to
which the HOMER program can be used to determine the
best working conditions through which the highest level of
solar power output can be obtained in the Tikrit area by
analyzing and comparing the measurement results of the
solar system installed on the surface of the laboratory
building at the University of Tikrit with simulation results
made by the HOMER program. The system consists of
three solar panels made of three different types of
semiconductors, pyrometers to determine the intensity of
solar radiation and electronic and electromechanical parts
of the movement and control. The axis motors move the Figure 4. Monocrystalline PV Solar Cells
panels in azimuth range from - 90° (east) to + 90° (west)
and the elevation between 0° (horizontal) to 90° (vertical).
Voltage, current, and power of the photovoltaic system, as
well as the solar radiation level, were measured for each
position and each plate. Data measured using the
MATLAB simulation program for the period from June 1
to August 29, 2016, were analyzed according to the
weather conditions of the city of Tikrit located along the
longitude 44o east and latitude 34o north. The results of
the comparison between the real measurements and the
simulation results indicate that they are identical with
some diffraction. [34],
Sid Ahmed Tadjer et al. Comparative performance
evaluation of four photovoltaic technologies in Saharan
climates of Algeria: ghardaïa pilot plant
The aim of this paper is to present an evaluation of the Figure 5. Polycrystalline PV Solar Cells
performance rate of four different photovoltaic techniques
in the Saharan environment. The purpose of this study is The second one, the module used is a polycrystalline panel,
to investigate, analyze, discuss, and illustrate the most it is manufactured by Canadian Solar company- Canada
effective of the different photovoltaic cell technologies and its model are CS6P-235P, and an inverter ABB, 1
(Monocrystalline (𝑚−𝑠𝑖), amorphous silicon (𝑎−𝑠𝑖), module*8 panel each Panel 235 w The maximum output
poly-crystalline silicon (𝑝𝑐−𝑠𝑖) and cadmium telluride thin power of the system is 1880W The experimental work is
film(𝐶𝑑𝑇𝑒−𝑇𝐹) installed in Ghardaia which is in southern done directly on the solar panel which consists of 60 cells,
of Algeria's Sahara Desert. To choose the most suitable with dimensions 1638 mm in length, 982 mm in width, and
technology for the Saharan climate conditions, the energy 40 mm Hight it weighs 19 kg it is directed the southwest
values produced by the plant were compared to those making an azimuth angle of 0 º with a constant tilt angle
found by the PVSYST sizing software. The results show of 23º the specifications are shown in Table 1. The
that thin-film and amorphous silicon panels produce low reference temperature was taken as 25º C, and the
illumination, so they are the best choice for the Saharan reference irradiance is 1000 W/m² the experimental work
environment [35], was done on the solar module during the first of January
2020 for 365 days.
7. EXPERIMENTAL WORKS The third one, the module used is a thin film panel, it is
First one, the module used is a Monocrystalline panel, it is manufactured by first Solar company- Germany and its
manufactured by Solar World company- Germany and its model is FS 270, this solar panel, and an inverter First
model are SW 175, this solar panel, and an inverter Solar Solar, 4 module*7 panels each Panel 70 w The maximum
World, 1 module*10 Panels each Panel 175 w The output power of the system is 1960W The experimental
maximum output power of the system is 1750 W The work is done
experimental work is done directly on the solar panel directly on the solar panel which consists of, with
which consists of 72 cells, with dimensions 1610 mm in dimensions 1200 mm in length, 600 m in width, and 6.8 m
length, 810 mm in width, and 34 mm height. it weighs 15 height. it weighs 12 kg it is directed to the southwest
kg it is directed to the southwest making an azimuth angle making an azimuth angle of 0 º with a constant tilt angle
of 0 ºwith a constant tilt angle of 23º the specifications are of 30. The specifications are shown in Table 1. The
shown in Table 1. reference temperature was taken as 25º C, and the
The temperature was taken as 25º C, and the reference reference irradiance is 1000 W/m² the experimental work
irradiance is 1000 W/m² the experimental work was done was done on the solar module during the first of January
on the solar module during the first of January 2020 for 2020 for 365 days.
365 days.
 2- Polycrystalline

Figure 6. Thin-film PV Solar Cells

By comparing the modules areas, a bigger efficiency of the
monocrystalline module is observed for practically the Figure 8. DC power output of the PV array
same irradiation capture area (0.148 vs 0.154 m²). Figure
1 shows a view of the installation site. For an optimal 3- Thin-Film
capture, the coordinates were considered (30°09'09.4"N
31°25'45.0"E), south orientation was used, choosing a 27-
inclination angle as recommended by the

There is another type of PV systems like “Off-Grid” which

has its charge regulator, battery, and variable DC loads.
For the dimensioning
and autonomy, the system was designed with the worst
radiation month method like December.

8. MODEL VALIDATION
To consider the simulation results as a reliable source of
prediction of the solar panel performance under different
weather conditions (ambient temperature and solar figure 9. DC power output of the PV array
irradiance), a comparison was made between the results
obtained from the experimental measurements and the 10. PERFORMANCE OF SOLAR
simulation. The figure shows the output characteristics of PANELS AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS
the thin-film solar panel obtained from experimental
measurements and theoretical simulation (PV SOL
IN EGYPT
Using the previous data to determine the best type of
package and panel data) at 26º C and 550 W/M² the
Photovoltaic panel in different locations in Egypt we can
maximum deviation was found in the value of
divide the country into 4 horizontal sections.
the voltage of maximum PowerPoint with a value of 12 %,
The first section takes the north coast of Egypt and the
which is considered an acceptable value to rely on the
delta, the second takes the area of Cairo and nearby, the
simulation as a tool of prediction of the performance of
third takes the area North Upper Egypt, and the last section
different PV solar panels under different weather
takes the area of South Upper Egypt and Aswan, the first
conditions [36] [37].
section lies at a latitude of 31º N taking horizontally all the
north coast of Egypt and this area is considered having the
9. SIMULATION OF RESULTS lowest temperature level around the year, the second one
1- Monocrystalline lies at a latitude of 29 º N taking the area of Cairo and the
lowest side of delta till the beginning of upper Egypt and
this area has a relatively higher temperature than the first
section.

Figure 7. DC power output of the PV array

Figure 10. Performance in Location 1
 The thin film has a 12 % percent efficiency, while
monocrystalline has a 17 % percent efficiency and
polycrystalline has a 15.85 percent efficiency.

It can be concluded that each type of PV panel is not

Figure 11. Performance in Location 2
effective in all locations; each location has its weather
characteristics, such as ambient temperature and solar
irradiance, which make one PV panel superior to another.
In this study, only temperature as an environmental
parameter is considered. Table 1 shows some
recommendations on each type of solar array and the best
location to use it in Egypt based on the previous results.
These suggestions are based on the effect of ambient
temperature on cell efficiency, which varies depending on
the type of solar panel used.

Recently, the global trend has shifted toward mono

Technology (mono perc) and Bifacial PV Panels,
particularly the continuous booming of efficiency for this
type, which is considered very important in terms of
saving lands, as shown by the following curves:

Figure 12. Performance n Location 3

Figure 14. Global PV Market Share by Technology [38]

Figure 13. Performance in Location 4 CONCLUSIONS

The three types of solar cells, monocrystalline,
The third one lies at a latitude of 26 º N taking the upper polycrystalline, and thin film, are all affected by
half of upper Egypt, this area has a high temperature temperature rise, and each has its efficiency, with
almost all month of the year. the fourth section lies at 24 º monocrystalline coming out on top, followed by
N and it takes the lowest part of Egypt having the highest polycrystalline, and finally amorphous thin film. Also,
temperature in all the country as the next figure shows the there is a very important parameter known as LCOE
performance of each type of solar panel in the first location (Levelized Cost of Energy) and its mean "generating cost
The previous curves show that the performance of Mono of KWH" which gives preference to one over others
and Poly Crystalline Technology is better at lower depending on location when choosing one of these
temperatures and the performance of thin-film PV Panels technologies and during the design of plant in the part of
is better at financial analysis.
While efficiency is an important factor to consider when
High temperature as in the next schedule: selecting a technology, we must also consider the
Table 1. Each zone in Egypt and the suitable type of solar panel for it temperature coefficient and its effect on cell production.
The best Technology to use Location Temperature The amorphous thin film has the lowest temperature
Monocrystalline At 30 ºC or less coefficient, and thus the smallest decrease in efficiency as
Polycrystalline At 40 º C or less temperature rises, followed by polycrystalline, and
Amorphous thin film more than 40 º C finally monocrystalline. Each type of PV panel is
preferable in certain locations, which means getting the
The best Technology to use lowest LCOE. Each location has its weather characteristics,
Monocrystalline At 30 ºC or less such as temperature, solar irradiance, dust density, and
Polycrystalline At 40 º C or less other factors that make a particular PV panel better than
Amorphous thin film more than 40 º C others. The monocrystalline type is best suited for
locations with a maximum average ambient temperature
of 30º C or less, whereas the polycrystalline type is best
suited for locations with a maximum average ambient
temperature of 30º C or higher if the location is 40o C or
less, polycrystalline would be preferable. The amorphous
thin film type is best suited for locations with a maximum
ambient temperature of more than 40º C.
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Biographies
Born in Cairo, Egypt in 1982.
He received a BSc. From Beni
Suef University, Egypt, in June 2005,
and obtained a Diploma in Total
Quality Management from the Tabbin
Institute for Metallurgical Studies.
Currently, he specializes in research
and scientific affairs at the Academy of Scientific
Research and Technology. He worked as the Secretary-
General of the Regional Energy Center and participated in
many large research projects. His current research interests
are in the fields of renewable energy. He is currently a
master's student. Evaluating the comparative performance
of different types of photovoltaic cells according to
climatic conditions and their educational applications.
Professor Adel El-Samahy was born in
Egypt, on September 5, 1958. He
received a B.Sc. degree in Electrical
Engineering in 1981 from the Faculty
of Engineering, Alexandria University,
Alexandria, Egypt. He received
M.Sc. and Ph. D. in Electrical
engineering from the University of
Helwan, Cairo, Egypt in 1988 and
1993. He served as to
visiting scholar and researcher at the University of
Washington, Seattle, USA, from 1990 to 1992. Currently,
he is a professor and Head of the electrical power and
machines Engineering department at the Faculty of
Engineering, Helwan University. Professor Adel El-
Samahy has a strong academic background in the field of
renewable energy systems, power electronics, electrical
machines, electric drives, advanced control, and artificial
intelligence
Ayman Haggag was born in Cairo,
Egypt in 1971. He received his B.Sc.
degree from Ain Shams University,
Egypt, in June 1994, M.Sc. degree
from the Eindhoven University of
Technology, The Netherlands, in
December 1997, and Ph. Degree
from Chiba University, Japan, in September 2008.
Presently, he is an Associate Professor of Communications
Engineering at the Electronics Technology Department,
Faculty of Technology and Education, Helwan University,
Egypt. His current research interests are in the fields of
Network Security, Wireless Security, Software Defined
Networking and Wireless Sensor Networks