Effect of shading losses on the performance of solar module system using MATLAB simulation

Silicon solar panels are widely used in photovoltaic applications. The voltage produced by each cell is limited to 1 V. Hence, solar cells are connected in series/parallel in order to obtain the desired voltage suitable for power conversion. Therefore, even a small amount of shading of solar cells/panels in the network affects the overall performance of the module significantly. To analyze the effect of shading on the overall system efficiency, we have used MATLAB Simulink tool to calculate Power vs Voltage (P-V) and Voltage vs Current (V-I) characteristics of solar panel under different shading conditions. Simulations show that for large panels even 20-30% shading of the solar module will result in 30-40% reduction in the power output. This demonstrates the importance of developing MPPT (Maximum Power Tracking) algorithms tailored to various situations which can work well in dusty environments and cloudy days. Its affect is of a prime interest to various IPP's (Independent Power Producers) especially in a large open solar farm.