The 11th International Renewable Energy Congress (IREC 2020)
Parameters Estimation of Solar PV Modules Based on
Single-Diode Model
Alhassan A. Teyabeen Najeya B. Elhatmi
Center for Solar Energy Center for Solar Energy
Research and Studies Research and Studies
Tripoli, Libya Tripoli, Libya
alhassan.teyabeen@gmail.com elhatmi_engineer@yahoo.com
Abstract—Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems directly convert
sun light into electricity. The accurate modelling of solar PV
modules is essential when designing PV systems, and it requires
the correct estimation of a number of parameters, such as: diode
ideality factor, series and shunt resistances. These values are not
included in the manufacturer's datasheet, and they must be
estimated by the modeller to predict the performance of the solar
PV module. The aim of this paper is modelling and simulation of
solar PV module by estimating parameters of nonlinear I-V curve
of solar PV module using a single-diode model. The parameters
estimation is carried out by numerical technique using Newton-
Raphson method by adjusting the I-V curve at three points which
are provided by all commercial datasheets: short circuit current,
maximum power, and open circuit voltage. The established model
allows to predict the performance of the solar PV module at
different environmental factors. The accuracy of the model is
validated by testing KYOCERA KC125GT solar PV module at
field. Results of the analysis presented in this paper show that the
established model presents favorable efficiency.
Keywords— modelling and simulation; single-diode model;
outdoor measurement; performance evaluation; Libya.
I. INTRODUCTION
A solar PV system directly converts solar radiation into
electrical energy. This technology prevents the production of
pollutants during operation such as emission of carbon dioxide.
A solar PV module operates over a large range of weather
conditions but the manufacturer's datasheet provides electrical
characteristics at only standard test conditions, STC, (1000
W/m , 25° C). Solar PV systems designers need an accurate
model for predicting the solar PV energy potential at various
environmental conditions. This study focuses on describing the
performance of solar PV modules based on a mathematical
model.
Various techniques of parameters estimation of solar PV
module have been proposed in the literature, M. Villalva et al.
[1] proposed a method to find the parameters of solar PV array
based on single diode model. The paper fitted the developed
mathematical I-V equation to the experimental I-V curve using
two types of solar PV modules: KYOCERA KC200GT and
SOLAREX MSX60 at different conditions of irradiation and
temperature. K. Ishaque et al. [2] proposed an improved simple
978-1-7281-5572-2/20/$31.00 ©2020 IEEE
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Akram A. Essnid Ali E. Jwaid
Center for Solar Energy Faculty of Computing,
Research and Studies Engineering and Media
Tripoli, Libya De Montfort University, UK
sneeda74@yahoo.com ali.jwaid@dmu.ac.uk
modelling approach for two diode model of the solar PV
module. The accuracy of the proposed model is validated by
testing six PV modules from various manufacturers. The
results showed that the proposed model presents excellent
accuracy at lower irradiance conditions. A. Humada et al. [3]
presented a comprehensive review to extract the DC
parameters of solar cell based on single diode and double diode
models. The paper classified the reviewed models into five
main groups on the basis of the number of the extracted
parameters. The paper compared the current-voltage (I-V) and
power-voltage (P-V) curves at standard test condition. A.
Bouraiou et al. [4] presented the modelling and simulation of
solar PV module and array based on single-diode and double-
diode models using MATLAB/Simulink software. The
experimental validation of the presented models under STC is
carried out. The simulation of I-V and P-V characteristics of
ISOFOTON 75 panel at different values of irradiation and
temperature is achieved.
The purpose of this study is to model and simulate PV
modules by accurate estimating the mathematical model
parameters. The established model allows predicting the
performance of solar PV modules under various weather
conditions.
Fig. 1. Equivalent circuit of a practical PV module.
II. THEORY
A. Modelling of solar PV modules
The equivalent circuit of the single diode model for a solar
PV module is shown in Fig. 1. The output current of this circuit
is given by [1– 3] :
= − −1 − (1)
where is the photovoltaic current of the module, which is Instead of the I-V curve, manufacturers of solar PV
generated by the incident light, is the saturation current of modules provided a few experimental data about solar PV
the module, is the equivalent series resistance of the modules including electrical and thermal characteristics as
module, is the equivalent shunt (parallel) resistance of the shown in Table I.
module, is the diode ideality factor. The solar PV module is
composed of a number of cells, cells connected in series
increase the output voltage, and cells connected in parallel TABLE I. SPECIFICATIONS OF KYOCERA KC125GT MONO-
increase the output current. = / is the thermal voltage CRYSTALLINE SOLAR PV MODULE.
of the module with cells connected in series [1], where is Electrical characteristics
the Boltzmann constant equal to 1.3806 × 10 J/K, is the Maximum power ( ) 125 Wp
temperature of the P-N junction (in kelvin), and is the Open circuit voltage ( ) 21.7 V
electron charge (1.6 × 10 ). If the solar module is composed Optimum operating voltage ( ) 17.4 V
of cells connected in parallel, the photovoltaic and Short circuit current ( ) 8.0 A
saturation currents are expressed as = , and = Optimum operating current ( ) 7.2 A
,
Module efficiency ( ) 16.40 %
, . The saturation current is described by [1, 2]:
Thermal characteristics
, ∆ Temperature coefficient of ( ) 0.00318 %/ C
= ⁄( )
(2) Temperature coefficient of ( ) -0.0821 %/ C
, ∆
Component materials
where , , , are the maximum current (short circuit Cells per module 36
current) and maximum voltage (open circuit voltage) available Cell type Mono crystalline
at terminals of the solar PV module, at standard test condition,
respectively. These values are provided by the manufacturer
Some of the parameters required to adjust the solar PV
and set in the datasheet. , are the temperature coefficients
module can't be found in the manufacturer's datasheets, such
of the short circuit current and open circuit voltage,
as: the photo-generated current, the diode ideality factor, the
respectively, both also included in datasheet. ∆ = − ,
series and shunt resistances, the reverse saturation current. All
where , are the actual temperature and temperature at
these parameters must be estimated to describe the
STC (in Kelvin), respectively. The light generated current of
performance of the solar PV module based on the mathematical
the solar PV module, can be described by [1, 2]:
model. The value of the ideality diode factor may be
= + ∆ (3) arbitrarily chosen. Usually, 1 ≤ ≤ 1.5 [1] and the choice
,
affects other parameters of the I-V model. In this paper, the
where is the solar irradiation (in W/m ) incident on the value of is selected to be 1.3 [1].
module surface, and is the solar irradiation at STC (1000 B. Estimation of single-diode model parameters
W/m ). The photo-generated current can be described in
From (1), two parameters remain unknown, series
terms of short circuit current as follow [1]: resistance, , and shunt resistance, . These two parameters
= (4) must be estimated to establish a mathematical model to predict
, ,
the performance of a solar PV module. In this paper and
The mathematical equation of a single diode model (1) are estimated by the way ensures keeping , = , =
originates the I-V curve are as shown in Fig. 2, where three at maximum power point of the I-V curve, where
points are remarked: short circuit current (0, ), maximum , is the maximum power calculated by the I-V
power point ( , ), and open circuit voltage ( , 0). mathematical model of (1), and , is the maximum
experimental power obtained from datasheet. The relation
between and can be found by applying , =
, as follow [1]:
(0,Isc )
(Vmp,Imp)

, = − − 1 − (5)
I

From (5) can be described as:

(Voc ,0)
= (6)
V ,

Fig. 2. I–V curve of a practical PV module and three points are apeared:
short circuit point (0, ), open circuit point ( , 0), and maximum power In order to find values of and , several iterations are
point ( , ). = =
required until , , (in fact , −
, < tolerance). In the iterative process must be started
from = 0, and slowly incremented until , = , .

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At each iteration, is determined from (6). Initial guesses of =∑ − (10)
and are necessary before starting the iterative process.
The initial value of must be zero, and the initial value of ̅ ̅
, which is the line between the short circuit current point = ∑ (11)
and maximum power point, may be given by [1]:
Where, , are the current values of the mathematical
, = − ,
(7) model and the experiment respectively, ̅ , ̅ denote the mean
,
of current values of the mathematical model and the
The I-V mathematical equation (1) does not have a direct experiment respectively, , denote the standard deviation
solution because = ( , ) and = ( , ). This I-V of the current of the mathematical model and the experiment
equation must be solved by applying a numerical technique. respectively, and is the sample size.
The Newton-Raphson method is presented to solve the I-V
nonlinear equation. it is given by [5]: IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
( ) Equation (1) is used for adjusting I-V curve model by
= − (8) estimating and based on the iterative method shown in
( )
Fig. 3. The characteristics of KYOCERA KC125GT mono-
Where, is the current of the iteration, and ( ) is the crystalline solar PV module presented in datasheet [10] and set
derivative of ( ). The algorithm of the iterative method used in Table I are used to establish the model. The iterative method
to estimate the and for establishing I-V model is shown described by the algorithm shown in Fig. 3 is used to estimate
in Fig. 3 [1]. the and . The error in maximum power ( =
Inputs: , , − , ) in each iteration is calculated and plotted
, Eqn. (2) versus iterations, as shown in Fig. 4. The error is continuously
=0 decreased in each iteration until it is closed to zero ( =
= Eqn. (7)
,
1.421 × 10 W). At this iteration, iterative method gives the
solution = 0.128 Ω and = 54.331 Ω.
Fig. 5 shows a plot of maximum power , as a
function of several series resistance for = and =
. This plot shows that the value of = 0.128 Ω is the
No desired solution. This plot may be an alternative way to
End > tolerance
graphically find the solution of .
1.5
1.4

1.2
Yes
1
max

0.8
I ℎ, , Eqn. (4)
∈P

ℎ , and , Eqn. (3) 0.6

ℎ , Eqn. (6) 0.4

Solve Eqn. (8) for 0 ≤ ≤ ,
0.2
Calculate for 0 ≤ ≤ ,
X: 128
Y: 1.421e-14
Find , 0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150
= , − , Iterations
Increment
Fig. 4. Error in maximum power versus iterations.
Fig. 3. Flowchart of the algorithm used to establish the I-V model. 128.5

128

III. VALIDATION OF THE MODEL 127.5

In order to examine the accuracy of the model, a 127

Pmax

comparison of the mathematical model with experimental data 126.5

is carried out. The statistical criteria such as root mean square
error (RMSE), sum squared error (SSE), and correlation 126

coefficient ( ) are used to assess the performance of the

X: 0.128
125.5 Y: 125.3

model. They are given by (9), (10), and (11), respectively [6–9] 125
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35
Rs
= ∑ − (9)
Fig. 5. Curve of = ( ), with = and = .

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 TABLE II. PARAMETERS OF THE ESTABLISHED MODEL OF THE
KC125GT SOLAR PV MODULE AT STC.
7.2 A Reference cell
17.4 V
, 125.28 W
8A
21.7 V
, 1.1624× 10 A
1.3
0.128 Ω
54.331 Ω

The parameters of the established model of the KYOCERA

KC125GT solar PV module at standard test conditions are set
in Table II. And To evaluate the accuracy of the established
model, the comparison of the I-V mathematical model with the
experimental data provided by the datasheet is achieved. Fig. 6
shows the I-V and P-V curves (in combined axes) of the
KC125GT solar PV module adjusted by the parameters shown
in Table I. As can be seen from the figure, the current of the
adjusted model exactly matches with experimental data at three
points provided by the datasheet: short circuit point, maximum Photovoltaic PVPM1000C.
power point, and open circuit point. These three points are module. Peak Power Computer
remarked in the figure, and they are equal to data published in KYOCERA Measuring Device and
KC125GT I-V-Curve Tracer for
the datasheet. PV Modules.
10 200

X: 0
Y: 8
X: 17.4
8 Y: 7.2 Fig. 7. Outdoor measurement equipments.
Current (A)

6
X: 17.4
Y: 125.3
100 10
4 R2=0.996 Measured data
Adjusted model
8

2
Current (A)

X: 21.7 6
Y: 0
0 0
0 5 10 15 20 25
4
Voltage (V)

Fig. 6. I-V and P-V curves adjusted to the three remarkable points. 2

The performance of the established model is also examined 0

by the experimental data measured at the field. The outdoor 0 2 4 6 8 10 12
Voltage (V)
14 16 18 20

measurement is accomplished at the experimental yard of the

Fig. 8. I-V curve of the established model and experimental data.
center for solar energy research and studies, Tripoli, Libya,
(lat: 32.814, long: 13.438). The measurement equipment are
shown in Fig. 7. The solar PV module and reference cell are
oriented in the same direction and tilt angle. The I-V and P-V 120
Measured data
characteristics are measured by PVPM1000C device, and data 100
Adjusted model

are transferred to a computer for further analysis.

80
The established model is compared with outdoor measured
Power (W)

data, where the measurement conditions were = 60

1004 W/m and =58°C, and the results are shown in Figs. 8
and 9. Fig. 8 shows the mathematical I-V curve of the 40

KC125GT module plotted with the experimental data obtained 20

from the measurement at the field.
0
The values of the statistical criteria, which used to evaluate 0 2 4 6 8 10 12
Voltage (V)
14 16 18 20

the model performance, are RMSE=0.4338, and SSE=2.8223,

= 0.996. Fig. 10 shows the absolute error of the Fig. 9. P-V curve of the established model and experimental data.
mathematical I-V model with respect to the experimental data.

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 The influence of environmental factors ( , ) on the 150
X: 17.4
performance of KC125GT PV module is simulated based on Y: 125.3

the established model. First, the temperature is set constant at

25°C and varying the solar radiation (1000 W/m , 800 W/m , X: 17.3
Y: 98.7

600 W/m , 400 W/m , 200 W/m ), where other model 100

Current (A)
parameters, , and , are maintained constant as given in X: 17.1
Y: 72.05

Table II. The simulation results of I-V and P-V characteristics G=1000W/m2

under these conditions are shown in Figs. 11 and 12. It is G=800W/m2 X: 16.8
Y: 45.54
clearly seen from Fig. 11 that the short circuit current strongly 50

G=600W/m2
depends on solar radiation. The higher the solar radiation, the X: 15.9
Y: 19.63
greater the short circuit current, and consequently the greater G=400W/m2
the maximum power. Second, the solar radiation is maintained G=200W/m2
constant at 1000 W/m and varying the temperature ( 25°C, 0
0 5 10 15 20

50°C, 75°C). Under these conditions, the simulation results of Voltage (V)

the characteristics of I-V and P-V curves are shown in Figs. 13 Fig. 12. P-V curve simulation of the performance of KC125GT solar PV
and 14. As shown from the figures, the short circuit current is module at different solar radiations, 25 C based on the established
almost staying constant when temperature increased. Whereas model.
the open circuit voltage depends on temperature. The higher
the temperature, the smaller the open circuit voltage, and
consequently the smaller the maximum power. 9

8 X: 17.4
Y: 7.2

1 7
X: 13.4 X: 15.4 T=25oC
Y: 7.127 Y: 7.17
0.9 6
0.8
Current (A) 5
0.7
Absolute error (A)

4 T=50oC
0.6
3
0.5

0.4 2 T=75oC
0.3 1
0.2 0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22
0.1 Voltage (V)
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 Fig. 13. I-V curve simulation of the performance of KC125GT solar PV
Voltage (V)
module at different temperatures, 1000 W/m , based on the
established model.
Fig. 10. Absolut error of the I-V curve model with respect to the experimental
data.

150
X: 17.4
Y: 125.3
9
X: 15.4
Y: 110.4 T=25oC
8 G=1000W/m2 X: 17.4
Y: 7.2

7 100
Power (W)

G=800W/m2
X: 17.3 X: 13.4
Y: 5.705 Y: 95.5
6
Current (A)

5 X: 17.1
G=600W/m2 Y: 4.213 T=50oC
4 50
X: 16.8

3 G=400W/m2 Y: 2.711

X: 15.8 T=75oC
2
2 Y: 1.242
G=200W/m
1 0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22
Voltage (V)
0
0 5 10 15 20
Voltage (V) Fig. 14. P-V curve simulation of the performance of KC125GT solar PV
module at different temperatures, 1000 W/m , based on the
Fig. 11. I-V curve simulation of the performance of KC125GT solar PV established model.
module at different solar radiations, 25 C based on the established
model.

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 V. CONCLUSION
In this paper, a modelling method for the solar PV module
based on one diode model is presented. The parameters of the
model , and are estimated by using an efficient iterative
method. The model is adjusted using experimental data of
KYOCERA KC125GT mono-crystalline solar PV module
provided by the manufacturer and published in datasheet. The
mathematical I-V established model is validated using
experimental data got (obtained) from datasheet at standard test
condition. The results showed that the model is excellent fitted
to the experimental data. The established model is also
examined by comparing its accuracy with measured data at
field. The results showed that the model presents favorable
efficiency. The impact of the environmental factors such as:
solar radiation and temperature on the performance of the
KC125GT PV module is simulated in this work. The results
showed that the decreasing of solar radiation degrades the short
circuit current which in turn degrades the maximum power.
And the increasing of temperature degrades the open circuit
voltage, and consequently the maximum power degrades.
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