Experimental Study of Current-Voltage Characteristics for Fixed and Solar Tracking Photovoltaics Systems

Abstract

The efficiency of solar electric systems basically depends on the materials used in making the solar cells and regardless of the type of application: fixed or tracking photovoltaics (PV), the quality and quantity of power produced by PV systems depend on both the amount of solar radiation incident on the solar panels as well as the current and voltage characteristics of the load. This present work, which involves field installation of a fixed PV alongside an existing equivalent tracking PV, simultaneously monitored the current and voltage response of both systems to changing solar radiation and ambient temperatures. The comparative results of the study provide a framework for decision-making on the choice of either of the systems and have shown that in the UK, both systems have a relatively slow electrical response to sunrise while the performance of fixed PV systems approximates that of tracking PV systems at noon time.