Solar Photovoltaic Cell Model: Voltage, Current and Output Power Characteristics

This article examines the voltage, current, and output power characteristics of solar photovoltaic cell models. Solar photovoltaic cells are devices that convert solar energy into electrical energy, constructed from photosensitive materials that generate electrons through light absorption. These electrons move within the cell to produce electric current. The cell's output power depends on light intensity and cell characteristics such as voltage and current. We will conduct an in-depth analysis of these properties to better understand photovoltaic cell performance. The implementation typically involves solving the diode equation I = I_ph - I_0[exp(qV/nkT)-1] where I_ph represents photocurrent, I_0 is reverse saturation current, and n denotes the ideality factor. Key MATLAB functions like "fsolve" can be employed to numerically calculate the current-voltage (I-V) characteristic curve, while power output is computed as P = V×I, with maximum power point tracking algorithms optimizing energy extraction.