Evaluation of photovoltaic solar power using the different operating temperature models over a tropical region

This study aimed to propose a suitable photovoltaic operating temperature model for generating optimal solar power across tropical climate regions using Nigeria as a case study. Ten existing models were evaluated using air temperature, solar radiation, and wind speed data obtained from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications, Version 2 archives over an 11-year period (2010-2020). The analyses revealed that the Risser-Fuentes model and Charles model produced the highest and lowest operating temperature values, respectively. The operating temperature values obtained from each of the models were then used in the PV energy model to generate solar power and evaluate its electrical efficiency. The results showed that the operating temperature value from the Charles model produced the highest solar power and maximum electrical efficiency across Nigeria's four climate regions, for both the seasonal and an annual timescales. The study concluded that the lower the operating temperature of the photovoltaic module, the greater the possibility of generating more solar power with greater electrical efficiency. Therefore, the study recommends the use of the Charles model for PV system size optimization, simulation, and design for solar power generation across all climate regions in Nigeria.