Low Cost PV Emulator Based on Programmable DC Power Supply and LabVIEW

To evaluate photovoltaic power converters with real photovoltaic panel require expensive testbed, time, and good climatic conditions. As a result, PV emulator is highly requested in solar energy conversion research, which is expensive equipment. This paper presents the development of an experimental low-cost PV emulator based on a programmable dc power supply, LabVIEW application is used to define the nonlinear model of the PV. The proposed approach is intended to have a simple testbed, inexpensive, and suitable for undergraduate students for courses such as renewable energies, power electronics, and control. The resultant PV emulator guarantees a controllable and safe environment to behave as a PV system.