New Analytical Models for Cardinal Points of Photovoltaic Solar Module Operating Outdoor under Arbitrary Conditions

In this paper, we present new mathematical models describing the variations of short-circuit current Isc, open-circuit voltage Voc, maximum power current Impp and maximum power voltage ∇mpp of photovoltaic solar module, operating outdoor under arbitrary conditions, as functions of irradiance and temperature. We test and validate these mathematical models using meteorological and photovoltaic data measured by NREL researchers for solar modules operating outdoor at Cocoa (Florida), Eugene (Oregon) and Golden (Colorado) during 2011. We find very good agreement between optimized values of cardinal points coordinates and experimental data. This allows us to predict with a high degree of accuracy output power, conversion efficiency and fill factor of single-crystalline, multicrystalline and amorphous photovoltaic modules.