Comparison of predictive models for photovoltaic module performance

This paper examines three models used to estimate the performance of photovoltaic (PV) modules when the irradiances and PV cell temperatures are known. The results presented here were obtained by comparing modeled and measured maximum power (P
m
) for PV modules that rely on different technologies. The models evaluated for estimating P
m
are (1) the power temperature coefficient model, (2) the PVFORM model, and (3) the bilinear interpolation model. These range from simple models with few input parameters to more complex models with more extensive PV module characterization procedures. NREL researchers determined modeling error statistics by comparing model estimates with measured PV performance data. A modification to the power temperature coefficient model was also evaluated that provided improved accuracy.