The main contribution of this paper is proposing a new approach for retrieving the five parameters of the single diode equivalent model (SDM) of photovoltaic cells/modules including the series and shunt resistances. The least square method is used as an error minimization technique for fitting the non-linear transcendental model equation of the solar panel to the measured I–V characteristics. Newton Raphson method is applied to solve the system of five non-linear equations which represent the error of each parameter. Initial guess values are calculated with an optimised algorithm depending on information extracted from the same measured data. MATLAB programming script was used in all implementation steps. This approach is useful for a wide variety of applications where the five SDM parameters have to be determined from the measured curves, particularly, for self-fabricated cells/modules or in case of no available datasheet. One of the strengths of this method is the higher level of accuracy because of the absence of mathematical simplifications and physical assumptions. The method was validated on different types of PV devices, including a crystalline silicon cell, a polycrystalline module, and an amorphous module by using measurement data obtained at a wide range of solar irradiance conditions and temperatures.
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