Assessment of implicit and explicit models for different photovoltaic modules technologies

Effective use of photovoltaic (PV) modules requires reliable models for a number of applications, such as monitoring the performance of PV systems, estimating the produced power and plant design, etc. Development of accurate and simple models for different PV technologies remains a big challenge. In this paper, a comparative study of seven implicit and explicit models, published in the literature, is presented. The predicted current-voltage characteristics of the main commercial PV module technologies (multi-crystalline Silicon, Copper Indium Gallium Selenide, and Cadmium Telluride), have been compared both with the ones from the datasheet and with the ones obtained experimentally. Moreover, the investigated models have also been evaluated in terms of accuracy, required parameters, generalisation capability and complexity. •Seven implicit and explicit models for PV cells and modules have been presented and compared.•The measured and simulated I-V curves have been compared for three PV modules technologies (m-Si, CIGS and CdTe).•Explicit models accurately describe the behaviour of PV modules for different technologies.