Simple PV Performance Equations Theoretically Well Founded on the Single-Diode Model

There are several photovoltaic (PV) performance models in the literature, but most of them either employ complex and tedious calculations or require additional measurements apart from datasheet information. In this paper, a new set of performance equations to evaluate the short-circuit current, open-circuit voltage, and maximum power point at any operating conditions is introduced. The proposed expressions are simple functions of the irradiance and temperature, while they are generally applicable to any crystalline PV module and require only datasheet information as input data. This is achieved by introducing new formulas to determine the irradiance and temperature coefficients that are not provided in the datasheet, thus avoiding empirical constants or additional measurements. The novelty of the performance equations is their solid theoretical background, as they are in excellent agreement with the single-diode PV model, combined with simple and easy application. The proposed PV model is validated and compared with other methods found in the literature through simulations in MATLAB and outdoor measurements on commercial PV modules.