Modeling of output current of a polycrystalline photovoltaic module via ambient temperature in Ilorin, Nigeria

The effect of ambient temperature on the performance of a 130 W polycrystalline photovoltaic (PV) module was explored in this study. With field data at Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria, the output current of a 130 W PV module was modeled using ambient temperatures. For two weeks of field observations, an instrumented meteorological mast was set up at an experimental site (8⁰ 30'N, 4⁰ 33'E) at Kwara State Polytechnic in Ilorin, Nigeria, for two weeks of field observations (1st to 14th July 2019). At 10-second intervals, the PV cell output current and ambient temperatures from the instrumented meteorological mast were recorded. A data logger (fabricated) storage module was used to store the sampled data. The saved data was further reduced to 20 min averages using the Microcal Origin data analysis program after erroneous measurement values were removed (quality assurance and quality control). With the MBE of 0.01 Wm^-2, RMSE of 0.13 Wm^-2, and r = 0.61, the predicted output current, OC_P, was compared to the actual measured output current, OC_m, and very good agreement was found. As a result, even with a short set of measured ambient temperature data, the estimator explored in this study is capable of predicting the performance of a polycrystalline PV cell in terms of its output current in the absence of direct measurement of the output current.