Coyote Optimization Algorithm for Parameters Estimation of Various Models of Solar Cells and PV Modules

Recently, building an accurate mathematical model with the help of the experimentally measured data of solar cells and Photovoltaic (PV) modules, as a tool for simulation and performance evaluation of the PV systems, has attracted the attention of many researchers. In this work, Coyote Optimization Algorithm (COA) has been applied for extracting the unknown parameters involved in various models for the solar cell and PV modules, namely single diode model, double diode model, and three diode model. The choice of COA algorithm for such an application is made because of its good tracking characteristics and the balance creation between the exploration and exploitation phases. Additionally, it has only two control parameters and such a feature makes it very simple in application. The Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) value between the data based on the optimized parameters for each model and those based on the measured data of the solar cell and PV modules is adopted as the objective function. Parameters' estimation for various types of PV modules (mono-crystalline, thin-film, and multi-crystalline) under different operating scenarios such as a change in intensity of solar radiation and cell temperature is studied. Furthermore, a comprehensive statistical study has been performed to validate the accurateness and stability of the applied COA as a competitor to other optimization algorithms in the optimal design of PV module parameters. Simulation results, as well as the statistical measurement, validate the superiority and the reliability of the COA algorithm not only for parameter extraction of different PV modules but also under different operating scenarios. With the COA, precise PV models have been established with acceptable RMSE of 7.7547×10
^-4
, 7.64801×10
^-4
, and 7.59756×10
^-4
for SDM, DDM, and TDM respectively considering R.T.C. France solar cell.