One shape parameter-based explicit model for photovoltaic cell and panel

Abstract In this paper, a novel empirical explicit model for photovoltaic (PV) cell and panel is proposed. The model is given by a simple analytic expression and involves only one shape parameter. The model makes it possible to directly calculate the current of the cell/panel corresponding to a given voltage without need for iterative methods or initial conditions. The validation of the proposed model was done through the reproduction of the I-V characteristic and the estimation of the maximum power point (MPP) of several benchmark PV cells and panels of different technologies and under different operating conditions (irradiation and temperature). The good level of similarity between the estimated values using the proposed model and the experimental data demonstrates the validity of the model to simulate the output characteristics and to approximate the MPP easily with good accuracy. Moreover, the model has been compared with several models in the literature which are based on two shape parameters or more. The proposed model shows comparable results to these models even if it is based on fewer parameters.