Development of a linearized photovoltaic generator model for simulation studies with electromagnetic transient programs

Summary In this paper, a linearized equivalent electrical circuit of a photovoltaic generator is developed. The proposed model is based on nonlinear and well‐tested current‐voltage equations which are however used in an alternative mathematical manner. The application of a linearization process, which differs from the well‐known piecewise linear scheme and is based on Taylor's series approximation, leads to uncoupling of the current and voltage quantities in each time step of a digital simulation. Using the proposed equivalent photovoltaic generator circuit, the application of nodal analysis on equivalent resistive circuits derives a photovoltaic system model of linear algebraic equations. This remarkably simplifies photovoltaic systems modeling because one can develop a photovoltaic generator element in electromagnetic transient programs for power systems analysis, of great value to power engineers who are involved in photovoltaic systems modeling. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.