Outdoors measurements of pv module efficiency and temperature coefficients

Abstract

Performance of a PV installation depends critically on the modules behaviour. That is the reason why a good estimation of energy production of a PV installation relies not only on the goodness of the module power characterization at standard test conditions, but also on the goodness of the characterisation of the module behaviour related to the variation of irradiance and temperature. So, it is closer to the reality running a simulation exercise of energy production with the actual values measured outdoors than with the values obtained from datasheets. This paper presents a device specifically implemented to measure outdoors the power of modules at standard test conditions, as well as their efficiency variation with irradiance and their temperature coefficients. Results of measurements with this device are also reported.