A Grid-connected Photovoltaic System:

Mathematical Modeling using MATLAB/Simulink

Maria C. Argyrou Paul Christodoulides Christos C. Marouchos Soteris A. Kalogirou
Department of Electrical Faculty of Engineering Department of Electrical Department of Mechanical
Engineering, Computer and Technology, Engineering, Computer Engineering and Materials
Engineering and Informatics, Cyprus University of Engineering and Informatics, Science and Engineering,
Cyprus University of Technology, Cyprus Cyprus University of Cyprus University of
Technology, Cyprus paul.christodoulides@cut.ac.cy Technology, Cyprus Technology, Cyprus
mx.argyrou@edu.cut.ac.cy christos.marouchos@cut.ac.cy soteris.kalogirou@cut.ac.cy

Abstractʊ Renewable Energy Sources, especially solar control unit [14]–[16] provide an AC voltage that meets the
energy, are important in mitigating environmental problems. grid requirements for connection and synchronization. The
Following, a step-by-step modeling of a photovoltaic (PV) system
that can be connected to the grid through converters is achieved. control unit implementation is a part of our future research
The proposed mathematical model is implemented in MATLAB/ study.
Simulink. A maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm
finds the maximum power for the operation of the PV system
during variations of solar irradiance and ambient temperature.
The proposed model is ready to be used for the implementation
of energy storage that can provide power and voltage smoothing,
peak shaving and standby generation in case of a grid fault.
Index Terms— average model, grid, maximum power point
tracking, modeling, photovoltaic, P&O algorithm, renewable
energy, Simulink. Fig. 1. Block diagram of a basic grid-connected PV system

It must be stressed here that, to our knowledge, the

I. INTRODUCTION
mathematical modeling of the full system depicted in Fig. 1
During the last decades, there is a growing interest for does not exist in literature, where one can only find
renewable energy technologies, and especially for mathematical descriptions of the separate blocks.
photovoltaics. The increasing electricity demand and the
global warming reinforce the feeling for independence from II. MATHEMATICAL MODEL OF PHOTOVOLTAIC ARRAY
fossil fuels and the utilization of the renewable energy
sources. Among all the renewable energy sources, solar The PV module is a technology for conversion of sunlight
energy can be considered as the most promising, widely into electricity. In other words, when a PV module is exposed
available and essential resource, especially for domestic to solar irradiation, it generates direct current without any
applications. noise or impact to the environment. PV modules contain
The main aim of this paper is the implementation of a step- series and/or parallel connections of PV cells. These cells are
by-step model of a photovoltaic (PV) system, which can be basically semiconductor diodes whose p-n junction is exposed
connected to the low voltage grid. Our approach is to sunlight [17]–[18]. PV modules can be connected in series
mathematical, unlike most of the papers that focus on the and/or in parallel, forming photovoltaic arrays.
electrical analysis of the model using the Simscape library of The studied model consists of 12 modules with a total
Simulink. We have chosen mathematical modeling because it power capacity of 3 kWp (two parallel strings of six PV
provides flexibility and adjustability on the parameters of the modules in series). The electrical characteristics are given in
model. Table I, some are taken from a manufacturer’s datasheet [19]
Fig. 1 represents a block diagram of a basic structure of a and the rest from [17]. The parameters are given under
grid-connected PV system [1]–[5]. A Maximum Power Point Standard Test Conditions (STC) with module temperature of
Tracking (MPPT) algorithm provides the maximum power 298 K (25 ºC) and irradiance of 1000 W/m2.
point for the operation of the PV system [6]–[10], which is Following, there is a step-by-step procedure explaining the
achieved using the Perturbation and Observation method. mathematical analysis of the PV module with MATLAB/
Additionally, a DC-DC boost converter ensures that the Simulink. Firstly, Fig. 2 presents the equivalent circuit of the
output voltage will always be greater than the grid peak one-diode PV cell. There is also a more detailed model of PV
voltage [11], [12]. Moreover, a DC-AC inverter [13] and a modules, known as the two-diode model [20]–[21], which is

978-1-5386-2344-2/17/$31.00 ©2017 IEEE

beyond the scope of the present study. The value of series The PV array subsystem encloses the PV module (Fig. 4).
resistance Rs is usually very small, with that of the shunt The array current is divided by the number of the modules
resistance Rp being very large [22]. connected in parallel (for the present model we have 2 strings
in parallel). Moreover, the output voltage of the module is
TABLE I being multiplied by the number of the modules in series
ELECTRICAL DATA OF PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULE connection (for the current model we have strings of 6 PV
Rated Power 250 W modules in series).
Short-circuit current (Isc) 8.61 A
Open-circuit voltage (Voc) 37.41 V
Temperature coefficient of Isc (Ki) 0.05 %/ºC or %/K
Temperature coefficient of Voc (Kv) –0.32 %/ºC or %/K
Series Resistance (Rs) 0.22 Ohms
Shunt Resistance (Rp) 415 Ohms
Number of cells in series (Ns) 60
Fig. 3. Simulink representation of PV array subsystem
Diode ideality factor (A) 1.3

Fig. 4. Inside the PV array subsystem

The output voltage of the module is calculated using (3)

Fig. 2. Equivalent circuit of the one-diode PV cell
and solving for Vpv, as seen in Fig. 5. Similar models based on
The module photocurrent Iph can be calculated by the mathematical behavior of PV modules, studied through
MATLAB/Simulink can be found in [1]–[5].
‫ܩ‬ (1)
‫ܫ‬௣௛ ൌ ൣ‫ܫ‬௦௖ ൅ ‫݅ܭ‬ሺܶ௖ െ ܶ௥௘௙ ሻ൧ ‫ כ‬ሺ ሻ
‫݂݁ݎܩ‬

where Isc is the short-circuit current [A], Ki is the temperature

coefficient of the short-circuit current [%/K], Tc is the module
temperature [K], G is the irradiation [W/m2], Tref = 298 K and
Gref = 1000 W/m2.
An improved equation concerning the reverse saturation
current is given by [21], [23]

‫ܫ‬௦௖ ൅ ‫݅ܭ‬ሺܶ௖ െ ܶ௥௘௙ ሻ (2)

‫ܫ‬௢ ൌ  ௤ሾ௏೚೎ ା௄ೡ ൫்೎ ି்ೝ೐೑ ൯ሿ
ሾ ሿ
݁ ேೞ ஺௞்೎ െͳ

where Kv is the temperature coefficient of the open-circuit

voltage [%/K], k = 1.381x10–23 J/K is Boltzmann’s constant
and q = 1.602x10–19 C is the electron charge. The diode
ideality factor A depends on the PV cell technology; e.g., for
polycrystalline silicon cells A =1.3 [1].
Using Kirchhoff’s Current Law, the output current of the Fig. 5. Calculation of output voltage of PV module Vpv
PV module is given by:

௤ሺ௏೛ೡ ାோೞ ூ೛ೡ ሻ (3)

ܸ௣௩ ൅ ܴ௦ ‫ܫ‬௣௩ III. MAXIMUM POWER POINT TRACKING
‫ܫ‬௣௩ ൌ ‫ܫ‬௣௛ െ ‫ܫ‬௢ ሺ݁ ேೞ ஺௞்೎ െ ͳሻ െ
ܴ௣
Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) techniques are
very significant, as one can improve the efficiency of the PV
The studied PV model takes as inputs the ambient model through them. There are many methods of MPPT, such
temperature Tc on the module, the solar irradiance G, and the as the Perturbation and Observation (P&O), the Incremental
array current, as shown in Fig. 3. Conductance, the Fractional Open-Circuit Voltage, the
Fractional Short-Circuit Current, the Fuzzy Logic Control and
the Ripple Correlation Control. All the above vary in
complexity, cost, popularity, convergence speed, hardware
requirements and efficiency levels [6]–[10].
Our research is based on P&O algorithm, also known as the
hill climbing method, which is the most commonly used
method due to its ease of implementation. As can be seen in
Fig. 6, the slope of the curve is zero at the maximum power
point (MPP), positive on the left side of the MPP (increasing
power region) and negative on the right side of the MPP
(decreasing power region). Therefore, the algorithm is
repeated and oscillated until the MPP is reached. The
oscillation can be minimized by reducing the step size of the
perturbation, but this slows down the process reaching the
MPP [9].
Fig. 8. PV system with MPPT control

IV. DC-DC BOOST CONVERTER (AVERAGE MODEL)

A DC-DC boost converter is important to our system, since
the input of the DC-AC inverter must be always greater than
the grid peak voltage. A basic circuit of the DC-DC boost
Fig. 6. Characteristic PV array power curve [9] converter is given in Fig. 9.

There are many modifications of the conventional P&O

method. For example, a variable step-size can be used instead
of a fixed step for perturbation [10], and the dynamic
behavior of the PV system parameters can be considered [24].
The variable for perturbation can be the converter duty
cycle [25], the voltage [26] or the current of the PV system. Fig. 9. Circuit of a DC-DC boost converter
In Fig. 7 there is a flowchart of our implementation based on
of the P&O algorithm. The perturbation variable is the current We assume that we have a continuous conduction mode of
of the PV array. The algorithm is implemented using a operation and the duty cycle D represents the time that the
MATLAB code and the representation of the PV system is switch is ON, while D‫ މ‬corresponds to the time that the switch
shown in Fig. 8. is OFF. Thus, we derive to the following equations [26]–[30]:
The step current (Istep) is defined to be 0.05 A, which is
proved to be an acceptable value. Therefore, the difference ݀‫ܫ‬௅ ͳ (4)
ൌ ሾܸ௜௡ ‫ ܦ‬൅ ሺܸ௜௡ െ ܸ଴ ሻ‫ܦ‬Ԣሿ
error (if exists) comparing the actual current at the MPP and ݀‫ݐ‬ ‫ܮ‬
the simulated current from our algorithm may be below ܸ݀଴ ͳ ܸ௢ (5)
0.05A. ൌ ሺ‫ܫ‬௅ ‫ܦ‬ᇱ െ ሻ
݀‫ݐ‬ ‫ܥ‬ ܴ

Furthermore, the relationship between the duty cycle D and

the voltage is given by:

௏೔೙ (6)
ܸ଴ ൌ
ଵି஽

Therefore, the Simulink average model of the DC-DC

boost converter is shown in Fig. 10. Unlike most of the papers
that examine the electrical part of the converters, our
approach is mathematical [8], [16], [26]. Implementing an
average model of the converter, it is useful to add a switching
loss current parameter, Isw (Fig. 10), which describes the
current loss due to the high switching frequency. The input
current Io of the converter (Fig. 10) is the output current I_in
Fig. 7. Flowchart of the implemented P&O algorithm
of the inverter (Fig. 11) [13].
 The input variable Iref corresponds to the current resulting VI. SIMULATION RESULTS
from the MPPT. We assume that the capacitor (C) is initially A. MPPT (P&O algorithm)
charged and the output voltage of the converter (Vo) is almost First, a simulation of the P&O MPPT method is performed
constant, having a small ripple voltage (ǻVC) [13], [16]: to check how accurate and responsive our model to the solar
irradiance variations is. We assume that irradiance is varied
ܲ௔௖ (7)
ȟܸ஼ ൌ  from 200–1000 W/m2 (see Fig. 8), with a step time of 0.1 sec.
‫ܸܥ‬௢ ɘ The PV current variation according to time, as determined by
the P&O algorithm, is shown in Fig. 12. We notice that the
where Pac is the average power delivered to the grid and Ȧ = MPP is efficiently reached in all the cases, and the small
2ʌf = 100ʌ. The capacitor provides balance to the oscillation remains until the next change of irradiance. The
instantaneous power delivered to the grid. The above equation response time of the algorithm is about 60 ms – an acceptable
shows that the ripple voltage depends on the average power value. Moreover, in Figs. 13 and 14 the representation of the
and the capacitance C. P-V and P-I curves are given respectively. With solid line, we
observe the curves derived by the P&O algorithm.

Fig. 10. Average model of DC-DC Boost converter

Fig. 12. PV array current according to time for different values of

V. DC-AC INVERTER (AVERAGE MODEL) irradiance
A significant part of a grid connected PV system is the
inverter and its control unit for grid synchronization. In this
paper, we examine an average mathematical model of the
single-phase DC-AC inverter [13], shown in Fig. 11. The
control unit includes a Phase Locked Loop (PLL) controller,
which is used for the synchronization of the PV system with
the grid [14]–[16]. The control unit is not studied here and it
is left for future research.
A switching loss current parameter, Isw (Fig. 11), which
describes the current loss due to the high switching frequency
is also applied as in the case of the DC-DC converter. The
grid voltage is at 230 Vrms with a frequency of 50 Hz.
Fig. 13. P-V curve (dashed line) and MPPT P-V curve (solid line) for
different values of irradiance

Fig. 11. Average model of single-phase DC-AC Inverter

Fig. 14. P-I curve (dashed line) and MPPT P-I curve (solid line) for
different values of irradiance
B. DC-DC Boost Converter and DC-AC Inverter ܲ௔௖ ሺ‫ݐ‬ሻ ൌ ܸ௔௖ ሺ‫ݐ‬ሻǤ ‫ܫ‬௔௖ ሺ‫ݐ‬ሻ ൌ ܸ௥௠௦ ‫ܫ‬௥௠௦ ሾͳ െ ‘•ሺʹ߱‫ݐ‬ሻሿ (10)
Next, to export some data on the AC side, we assume a
constant irradiation of 1000 W/m2 and a constant module The efficiency of the inverter is measured at 0.96. That
temperature of 25 ºC. In addition, the reference input current means that the average power delivered to the grid nearly
of the inverter is calculated to be 12A constant value. The matches the power generated by the PV array.
12A value of current corresponds to the output of the control
unit for this specific case. The complete model, drawn in
Simulink is shown in Fig. 15.

Fig. 15. Final Model including PV array, MPPT control, DC-DC Fig. 17. AC Voltage (blue) and AC current (red) according to time
converter and DC-AC inverter

Furthermore, regarding the output voltage of the DC-DC

boost converter (Fig. 16), there is a ripple voltage
superimposed on the average voltage of 492V during the
steady state period. Equation (7) verifies the value of the
ripple voltage, which is about 12V (using a 1500ȝF
capacitor). We can also notice that the voltage is balanced at
the same average value (492V). This happens because the
value of the 12A reference current results to a power and thus
to a voltage balance. Also, the ripple voltage frequency is
twice the grid frequency of 50 Hz.
Fig. 18. Input (blue) and Output (red) instantaneous Power of the DC-AC
Inverter

VII. CONCLUSIONS
In this paper all the essential steps for the simulation of a
complete PV system that can be connected to the utility grid
have been described. A PV array connected with DC-DC
boost converter and DC-AC inverter has been mathematically
modeled. The implemented P&O algorithm tracks the system
to the MPP. The power generated by the PV array is passed to
the grid with minimal losses. Therefore, our goal is achieved.
Fig. 16. Output Voltage of DC-DC boost Converter A future research goal is the very useful implementation of
the control unit discussed in section V. This will allow us to
Moreover, the resulting AC voltage and current are shown evaluate the accuracy of the model. Also, the system could be
in Fig. 17, while Fig.18 presents the input and output adjusted to all different situations as well as to be
instantaneous power of the inverter. synchronized with the grid. Moreover a most interesting
The AC voltage and current equations are given below: aspect, not addressed here, is that of energy storage. Due to
distributed generation, energy storage is more than a
ܸ௔௖ ሺ‫ݐ‬ሻ ൌ  ξʹܸ௥௠௦ •‹ሺ߱‫ݐ‬ሻ (8) necessity, thus the development of these technologies has
‫ܫ‬௔௖ ሺ‫ݐ‬ሻ ൌ  ξʹ‫ܫ‬௥௠௦ •‹ሺ߱‫ݐ‬ሻ (9) recently been reinforced. There are many energy storage
methods to be used [31]. A proposed block diagram of a grid-
connected PV system with energy storage is shown in Fig. 19.
The power supplied to the AC grid pulsates at twice the AC
Finally, a further proposed research study can be an
grid frequency. This is reasonable, as the instantaneous AC
integration of that PV system in a nearly Zero Energy
power to the grid is calculated by Building (nZEB) [32].
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