Effects of Shading on a Solar PV Module

The effects of partial shading on the Current-Voltage, and Power Voltage curves of a typical silicon PV module over a day.

Notice how the voltage that gives the maximum power (known as the maximum power point) is rapidly changing. This is a challenge in solar research, though solutions have been proposed to track this via advanced maximum power point tracking techniques.

[erniebs]

Perfect…simple, quick, with a lot of data. Thank you.

[TushhsuT]

Really awesome. Thank you! I was looking something similar for months already. It was not clear how the shading influence on module and how the bypass diodes could improve the power output. In theory I got how everzthing works, but on practice was not obvious how to get this "improved condition". Basically MPPT should track the power and if it is changed too much, should make another sweep and get the new maximal point for current/voltage pair.
Now with half-cell modules it becomes even more interesting and such simple experiment actually would be really nice to see.

[EliT]

Disclaimer: Please note the module used in this video was a Sanyo HIP module. Such modules are different from regular silicon PV modules as they have an intrinsic amorphous silicon layers between the p-type and n-type silicon. This intrinsic layer acts like a capacitor when under IV scan, with the initial current from the flash effecting the charge across the intrinsic layer. As a result, when increasing the voltage, some of the initial current goes to "charge" the intrinsic layer and so the slope observed on the IV curve is steeper than under a stable voltage (or a slower IV scan). This appears on the graph as an increased resistance. It effects the slope of the blue IV graph, but not the step-like nature of the graph.
So please consider rather the step-like nature of the output IV curve, and ignore the shunt resistant behaviour.

[GaryDoesSolar]

Hi there, I really like how this video shows the dynamic nature of the I-V curve wrt shading - thank you for making it. Now, I'm making a follow up video to a shading video I published recently. And for this, I'd very much like to include some screenshots/video of this one. Of course, I would fully accredit the contact back to yourself. Would that be ok? Many thanks, Gary

[tamashamas]

So this must be a panel with no bypass diodes?

[amritanshgupta]

hello eliott, this is amritansh gupta from india, i would be really grateful if you could tell me what did you used to show this
variation through graph.

[millicentmaina]

Hi Eliot, I'm interested in knowing the software you used to make the solar panel shaded video, and also making the split video. I'll be grateful.