Lab No.

BAHRIA UNIVERSITY KARACHI CAMPUS

Department of Electrical Engineering

Renewable Energy System

LAB EXPERIMENT # 5

Effect of Temperature on Solar Panel Performance

OBJECTIVES:
 Effect of temperature on the output voltage and current
 Effect of temperature on the output power

THEORY:
Effect of Temperature on Output Voltage and Current

The characteristics of PV panels studied in the previous exercise assumed that the temperature of the PV
cells is close to room temperature, i.e., about 25°C (77°F). In this exercise, you will learn that the
characteristics of PV panels are significantly affected by the temperature of PV cells.
The open-circuit voltage EOC of a PV module, or more generally the PV module output voltage,
decreases significantly as the cell temperature is increased. For most PV modules made of crystalline-
silicon PV cells, the output voltage decreases by about 0.3% to 0.5% for every 1°C increase in
temperature (about 0.17% to 0.28% for every 1°F increase in temperature). For instance, E OC decreases
by about 6% to 10% when the PV cell temperature passes from 25°C to 45°C (77°F to 113°F). See
Figure 5-1.

Figure 5-1. Characteristic E-I curves of a PV module operating at various cell temperatures.

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 Lab No. 5

Conversely, the short-circuit current ISC of a PV module, or more generally the PV module output
current, increases very slightly as the cell temperature is increased. For most PV modules made of
crystalline-silicon PV cells, the output current increases by about 0.05% to 0.1% for every 1°C increase
in temperature (about 0.03% to 0.06% for every 1°F increase in temperature). For instance, I SC increases
by about 1% to 2% when the PV cell temperature passes from 25°C to 45°C (77°F to 113°F).

Effect of Temperature on Output Power

The effect of cell temperature on the output voltage and current changes the shape of the characteristic
E-I curve of PV modules. This results in a significant decrease in the maximum power a PV panel can
produce. For most PV modules made of crystalline-silicon PV cells, the maximum output power
decreases by about 0.3% to 0.5% for every 1°C increase in temperature (about 0.17% to 0.28%
for every 1°F increase in temperature). In other words, the efficiency of a PV module decreases when
the PV cell temperature increases. For instance, the maximum output power of a PV module decreases
by about 6% to 10% when the PV cell temperature passes from 25°C to 45°C (77°F to 113°F).

The temperature of the cells in PV modules installed outdoors is often higher than 25°C (77°F) when the
units operate under direct sunlight and warm ambient temperatures [>25°C (>77°F)]. Under such
conditions, cells in PV modules often operate at temperatures between 50°C and 75°C (122°F and
167°F). Because of this, the degradation in performance due to high temperature operation must be
accounted for when evaluating (predicting) the actual amount of electrical power a PV module can
produce, as this has a direct impact on the amount of electrical energy produced. For instance, when a
PV module exhibiting a decrease in maximum output power of 0.4% per degree Celsius (0.22% per
degree Fahrenheit) operates at a cell temperature of 60°C (140°F), i.e. (35°C (63°F) above the nominal
operating temperature of 25°C (77°F), the maximum output power is 14% lower than the maximum
output power obtained when the same PV module operates at a PV cell temperature of 25°C (77°F).

PROCEDURE:
 Install the Monocrystalline Silicon Solar Panel in the Solar Panel Test Bench then install the
Solar Panel Test Bench into the Workstation. Adjust the position of the solar panel so that the
short-circuit current ISC of the “lower” PV module is as close to 100 mA as possible at near room
temperature. Steps 4 to 9 of Exercise 2 provide detailed directions for installing the modules and
setting ISC to about 100 mA.

 Once the Monocrystalline Silicon Solar Panel is properly positioned in the Solar Panel Test
Bench, turn off the fan but leave the lamp on. This will cause the PV panel temperature to
increase to a value well above room temperature [about 55°C to 65°C (131°F to 149°F)] after a
warm up time of approximately half an hour.

Risk of burns. The halogen lamp and the surrounding components can become
very hot during this exercise

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 Lab No. 5

Open-circuit voltage EOC and short-circuit current ISC of a PV module operating at high
temperature

In this part of the exercise, you will compare the open-circuit voltage EOC and short-circuit current ISC of
a PV module operating at high temperature (i.e., well above room temperature) with those measured at
near room temperature.

 Once the PV panel temperature has stabilized, measure the open-circuit voltage EOC, short-circuit
current ISC, and the temperature of the lower PV module.

Open-circuit voltage EOC: ____________

Short-circuit current ISC: ____________
PV panel temperature: ____________

 How does the open-circuit voltage EOC measured at high temperature compare with that
measured at near room temperature in step 12 of the previous exercise?

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

 Using the open-circuit voltages measured at high temperature and at near room temperature,
calculate the percentage decrease in PV module voltage per degree Celsius (per degree
Fahrenheit).

Percentage decrease in PV module voltage: ____________

 How does the short-circuit current ISC measured at high temperature compare with that measured
at near room temperature in step 9 of the previous exercise?

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

 Using the short-circuit currents measured at high temperature and at near room temperature,
calculate the percentage increase in PV module current per degree Celsius (per degree
Fahrenheit).

Percentage increase in PV module current: ____________

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 Lab No. 5

Characteristic E-I Curve of a PV Module Operating at High Temperature

In this part of the exercise, you will plot the characteristic E-I curve of a PV module operating at
high temperature (i.e., well above room temperature).

 Connect the “lower” PV panel as shown in Figure 5-2.

Figure 5-2. Circuit used to determine the characteristic E-I curve of a PV module.
 Using the potentiometer of the Solar Panel Test Bench, vary the output voltage from minimum to
maximum by increments of 0.5 V. For each voltage setting, record the output voltage and the
corresponding current in Table 5-1.

Enter the cell temperature in the appropriate cell in Table 5-1.

Table 5-1. Characteristic E-I curve of a PV module measured at high temperature.

Voltage Current Power Voltage Current Power
(V) (mA) (W) (V) (mA) (W)

Temperature of the PV panel during the measurements:

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 Lab No. 5

 Using the values in Table 5-1, plot the characteristic E-I curve of the PV module.

Maximum power point produced by a single PV module operating at high temperature

In this part of the exercise, you will compare the maximum power point produced by a single PV
module operating at high temperature (i.e., well above room temperature) with that measured when
operating at near room temperature.

 Calculate the output power of the PV module for each measured E-I point. Enter your results in
Table 5-1.

Plot the curve of the PV module output power versus PV module output voltage on the characteristic E-I
curve graph, and identify the maximum power point (MPP) on the curve.

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 Lab No. 5

 How does the maximum power point determined at high temperature compare with that
measured at near room temperature in the previous exercise?

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

 Using the maximum power points determined at high temperature and at near room temperature,
calculate the percentage decrease in PV module output power per degree Celsius (per degree
Fahrenheit).

Percentage decrease in PV module output power: ____________

Conclusion:

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 Lab No. 5

Lab Assessment Rubric # 5

Needs Total
Category Excellent 8 Good 6 Satisfactory 4
improvement 2 (40)
Clearly describes the Adequately Describes the Cannot describe
objectives of lab. describes the objectives but the objectives of
Understands possible objectives, but misses some the lab, or what
Objectives and sources of errors and cannot discuss details. Cannot was learnt,
Results their effects. possible sources discuss possible sources of errors
Suggests ways to of errors and sources of error or and their effects
minimize them. their effects their effects
Circuit works Circuit performs Circuit performs Circuit does not
perfectly. All wires most the but output not give any output.
Circuit are attached. / Code functions, gives exactly as Most wires are
implementatio works perfectly output. / Code expected. Some not connected/
n/ software gives some connections not code not
coding errors done/ code gives compiled/ many
some correct errors
output
Can clearly identify Adequately Describe the Cannot describe
the problems and identify the problem but cannot the problem and
take steps to fix problems and suggest steps on has no effective
Trouble them. Uses an steps taken to fix how to solve them. strategy on how
Shooting effective strategy to them. Uses an Trouble shooting is to solve them.
solve problems effective strategy not consistent.
but misses some
details
Detailed results are Adequate results Some missing Most results are
Measurements shown for each step. are shown. 80% observations. 70% missing. Only
and 100% measurements measurements results are correct 30%
Observations are correct are correct measurements
are correct
Thorough Good Limited Shows incorrect
understanding of the understanding of understanding of understanding of
concepts underlying the concepts, the concepts. the concept.
the lab. Can apply it however, cannot Cannot apply to Cannot find any
Conclusions
in real life situations apply them in real life situations usage of the
real life and suggest any knowledge.
situations use of the Cannot describe
knowledge what was learnt.

Lab No: 5 Total Marks: 40 Marks Obtained:

Signature:

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