PVMODEL: An Online Photovoltaic Modelling Tool

This article presents an online tool to model the characteristic I-V curve of a photovoltaic (PV) panel in real time. This tool is implemented on a friendly web (https://www.pvmodel.umh.es) and its use is completely free. The main functionality is the calculation of the five parameters of the PV single-diode model, either with real measurements of the PV module or with the data provided in the datasheet of a PV module. In the first case, the two methods that currently obtain the best results so far in two well-known cases study in the literature, the so-called Two-step linear least-square (TSLLS) method and the Reduced Form (RF) method, can be executed, in the second case, it is used a new method that allows obtaining the infinite sets of five parameters that satisfy the three remarkable points of the datasheet, that is, the short-circuit, the open-circuit and the maximum power points. Besides the PV model calculated can be also downloaded as an LTspice subcircuit so it can be used directly in electric or electronic simulations. In addition, some I-V curves data examples and PV modules datasheets data are provided so the user can test the tool directly.