Assessment of Maximum Power Output of Photovoltaic Modules to Rated Power Currently in Nigeria
Abstract
This paper evaluates the maximum power output of photovoltaic (PV) modules compared to their rated power as indicated in the Nigerian market, a key consideration for vendors involved in solar installations and standalone solar home systems. Various solar panels from numerous manufacturers are imported into Nigeria, many of which feature power ratings that do not align with their actual performance. The study employed Current-Voltage (I-V) curve analysis, a graphical representation of the relationship between current and voltage in solar panels, to determine the true maximum power output of PV modules. The analysis utilized specialized laboratory equipment, including a sun simulator (Minikla Solar Test Machine) and I-V plotter, to generate data such as Short-Circuit Current (Isc), Open-Circuit Voltage (Voc), Maximum Power Point (MPP), Fill Factor (FF), and Efficiency (Eff). These measurements were conducted under temperature-matched operating conditions (TMOT) specified on the product datasheets. The results were compared with the expected values for each tested solar panel. This study revealed that, while most commercial systems are reported to have achieved average efficiency of 21%, the average efficiency of tested imported solar panels in Nigeria was found to be around 15.91%. Additionally, the actual maximum power output of many imported PV modules was significantly lower than their manufacturer-rated power. However, smaller capacity panels (less than 10 W), commonly used in standalone solar home systems (SHS) for devices like flashlights and small household appliances, exhibited an average efficiency higher than manufacturer rated power efficiency. The findings highlight that using multiple low-efficiency PV panels for major installations, with design calculations based on their rated power output, often results in inefficient systems that fail to meet user expectations and are ultimately unfit for purpose.
Keywords
Short-Circuit Current (Isc), Open-Circuit Voltage (Voc), Maximum, Power Point (MPP)Fill Factor (FF) Efficiency (Eff). at temperature-matched operating conditions (TMOT), Standard Test conditions (STC) Solar Home Stand alone (SHS)
Citations
IRE Journals:
Akingbesote Fredrick Oluwafisayo , Prof. Ewetumo Theophilus
"Assessment of Maximum Power Output of Photovoltaic Modules to Rated Power Currently in Nigeria" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals Volume 8 Issue 7 2025 Page 637-642
IEEE:
Akingbesote Fredrick Oluwafisayo , Prof. Ewetumo Theophilus
"Assessment of Maximum Power Output of Photovoltaic Modules to Rated Power Currently in Nigeria" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, 8(7)
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