Modeling and Assessing the Performance of a Low-Concentration Photovoltaic System

One of the most promising renewable energy sources that could help solve a lot of the problems the current world faces is solar energy. Low-concentration photovoltaic (LCPV) systems offer significant advantages, including reduced unit costs and improved efficiency in solar power generation compared to non-concentrated photovoltaic modules. This study introduces a performance prediction model for an LCPV system that incorporates a crystalline silicon solar module positioned at the outlet aperture of a compound parabolic concentrator (CPC). Designed for a concentration level of 2.5x, the CPC serves as the concentrating element. The proposed LCPV system is modeled and simulated using MATLAB to evaluate variations in output power, short-circuit current, and open-circuit voltage under changing solar irradiance and temperature conditions. The current-voltage and power-voltage characteristics curves have been drawn for different incident solar irradiances and temperatures. The extreme power point has been identified, and the corresponding values of voltage and current have been recorded. It has been found that the open-circuit voltage rises logarithmically with increasing light intensity, whereas the short-circuit current grows linearly with sunlight concentration. It is further examined that lower module temperature resulted in higher maximum power and larger open-circuit voltage, which has a profound effect on system performance. Higher irradiance levels resulted in larger currents while voltage remained relatively constant. The developed model can be adequately used for electrical characterization and performance estimation of LCPV systems under diverse operating conditions.