Seasonal Variation of Internal Parameters of an Amorphous Silicon (a-Si) Thin Film Photovoltaic Module

Abstract

Operating parameters of a KA58 Amorphous Silicon (a-Si) photovoltaic module is investigated as a function of solar irradiation and atmospheric conditions using current-voltage curves taken for a year from April to May at Mugla Sitki Kocman University PV Outdoor Test Site. Single diode model is proposed to explain the current-voltage curves of thin film solar cells and modules. It is observed that the operating parameters of a KA58 a-Si photovoltaic module exhibit significantly different response to the changes in solar radiation and weather conditions in a period of 12 months. Correlations between internal parameters, namely R-S, R-P, I-L, I-O and a (modified ideality factor) of module and solar irradiation and atmospheric data is investigated.