2.

3 UNDERSTAND PHOTOVOLTAIC
TECHNOLOGY
2.3.1 EXPLAIN THE BASIC PRINCIPLE OF
PHOTOVOLTAIC EFFECT
Diodes in Solar Panels

• The diodes which are used for protection of solar panels are called as
bypass diodes.
• If the solar panel is faulty or damaged or shaded by fallen leaves, snow
and other obstructions, the overall output power decreases and arise
hot spot damage because the current of the rest of the cells must flow
through this faulty or shaded cell causes a overheating.
• The main function of the bypass diode is to protect the solar cells
against this hot spot heating problem.
• The above figure shows the connection of bypass diodes in solar
cells. These diodes are connected in parallel with the solar cells.
Thereby limits the voltage across the bad solar cell and allows
the current from good solar cells to the external circuit.
• Thus, reduces the overheating problem by limiting the current
flow through the bad solar cell.
2.3.2 DIFFERENTIATE VARIOUS PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS:
Polycrystalline
Just like the monocrystalline solar cell, a polycrystalline solar cell is
made from thin wafers of silicon, which is cut from an artificially
grown crystal. However, this type of solar cell is made from several
interlocking silicon crystals, thus, making them cheaper to produce
compared to its counterpart.

Monocrystalline
Monocrystalline solar PV cell is the most efficient type of solar PV cell
because despite its small appearance, it can produce the same
amount of electricity that is produced by its counterpart solar cells.
This type of solar PV cell is made from thin wafers of silicon, which is
cut from an artificially grown crystal, thus, making it the most
expensive among all the types of solar PV cell.
Hybrid Solar Cell
Hybrid solar cell is not a natural type of a solar cell rather than a
combination of amorphous silicon solar cell and monocrystalline
solar cell. This type of solar cell is the recent development in
photovoltaic, which composed of a high electron transport material
and an organic material. The combination of these two materials
makes the power conversion efficient and generates better output.
Moreover, hybrid solar cell perform its best when place in sunnier
climate, which temperature can reach up to 25 degree Celsius,
thus, producing more electricity.

Amorphous Silicon Solar Cell

Among all the types of solar PV panels, amorphous solar cells are the
cheapest and easiest type of solar cell to produce. Amorphous solar
cells are often used for low power equipment, such as pocket
calculators and watches since it produces less efficient solar cells.
However, with recent innovations in manufacturing this type of solar
cell (called stacking), amorphous solar cell can produce high efficient
solar cells by combining several layers of silicon cells. The advantages
of using an amorphous solar cell are
1.) it’s flexible since the layer of its silicon is thin, and
2.) they are effective in low light levels.
Solar Panel Specification Details
2.3.3 REVIEW THE MALAYSIAN BUILDING INTEGRATED PHOTOVOLTAIC
(MBIPV) PROJECT

The Malaysia Building Integrated

Photovoltaic Technology Application
(MBIPV) programme was launched in
2005 and completed in 2011, with a total
budget of US$24.96 million. The project
was implemented by UNDP

Policy Details
The overall objective of the project was
to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions from the electricity sector by
reducing the long-term cost of BIPV
technology. BIPVs are solar energy
systems that are integrated into the
design of a structure that serve to
replace conventional building materials
• The MBIPV project will specifically focus on the market
development for BIPV technology, and building national capacities
in three major areas:
(a) policy and education;
(b) technical skills and market implementation;
(c) and technology development support.

• Under the project, the National Renewable Energy Policy and

Action Plan was prepared and approved by the Government of
Malaysia in April 2010, followed by the development of the
Renewable Energy Act which supports the feed-in tariff (FiT)
scheme.

• Subsequently, a statutory body called the Sustainable Energy

Development Authority (SEDA) that administers; manages; and
monitors the FiT scheme and all matters regarding RE was
established under the National Renewable Energy Policy and
Action Plan.
 2.4 APPLY PHOTOVOLTAIC TECHNOLOGY IN ELECTRICITY GENERATION
2.4.1 DEMONSTRATE THE CURRENT AND VOLTAGE OUTPUT FROM PHOTOVOLTAIC PANEL

Solar Cell I-V Characteristic Curves show the current and voltage ( I-V )
characteristics of a particular photovoltaic ( PV ) cell, module or array giving a
detailed description of its solar energy conversion ability and efficiency.

The meter is also used to measure the open

circuit voltage and the short circuit current.
Here is a table of data from a set of
measurement on 3 large solar panels
connected in series. In this example power
resistors of 100, 50, 25 and 3 ohms were
used. The current through each resistor is
calculated by dividing the measured voltage by
the resistance. The power is calculated by
multiplying the voltage times the current.
• With the solar cell open-circuited, that is not connected to any load, the current will
be at its minimum (zero) and the voltage across the cell is at its maximum, known as
the solar cells open circuit voltage, or Voc.

• With the solar cell open-circuited, that is not connected to any load, the current will be
at its minimum (zero) and the voltage across the cell is at its maximum, known as the
solar cells open circuit voltage, or Voc.

• In other words, the maximum voltage available from a cell is at open circuit, and
the maximum current at closed circuit.
• The corresponding values of Vmp and Imp can be estimated from the open circuit
voltage and the short circuit current: Vmp ≅ (0.8–0.90)Voc and Imp ≅ (0.85–0.95)Isc.
Since solar cell output voltage and current both depend on temperature, the actual
output power will vary with changes in ambient temperature.
2.4.2 RELATE PHOTOVOLTAIC CURRENT AND VOLTAGE OUTPUT WITH VARYING
ELECTRICAL LOADS

• Photovoltaic panels can be wired or connected together in either

series or parallel combinations, or both to increase the voltage or
current capacity of the solar array.
• If the array panels are connected together in a series combination, then
the voltage increases and if connected together in parallel then the
current increases
• However the solar panels are connected together, the upper right hand
corner will always be the maximum power point (MPP) of the array.
 2.5 ANALYZE THE BEHAVIOUR OF PHOTOVOLTAIC PANEL
2.5.1 DETERMINE THE EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE ON PHOTOVOLTAIC PANEL
PERFORMANCE
2.5.2 DETERMINE THE EFFECT OF SHADING ON PHOTOVOLTAIC PANEL PERFORMANCE
2.5.3 DETERMINE THE EFFECT OF ORIENTATION ON PHOTOVOLTAIC PANEL PERFORMANCE