PV System Performance in Variable Climatic Conditions

Abstract

This paper is focused to the study of the panel temperature operating under different climatic conditions; to this goal a detailed model has been developed to estimate the response of the panel temperature to various scenarios. The model has been designed based on energy balance, where temperature of the panel is estimated applying heat exchange processes with the environment, mainly convection and radiation, considering the effects of ambient temperature, wind speed and atmospheric pressure. Results have been compared to those from the PV plant in Uyuni (Bolivia) for the 14th of April, 2020, showing an average deviation of 1.3ºC. The effect of climatic conditions onto the temperature of the panel, and the delivered energy, have been quantified; ambient temperature is the most influencing parameter, with a lowering of 0.33% in the delivered energy for an increase of 1º C. In the same way, the analysis has proved that a wind speed of 15 km/h reduces panel temperature by 10ºC, thus increasing the power generation a 5%. Finally, it has been tested that atmospheric pressure has low influence on the panel performance, with a reduction of 2% in energy for a pressure of 0.5 atm.