A Platform for Outdoor Real-Time Characterization of Photovoltaic Technologies

In recent years, thin-film and organic photovoltaic (OPV) technologies have been increasingly used as alternatives to conventional due their low weight, portability, ease of installation. Outdoor characterization studies allow knowing the real performances these (PV) in different environmental conditions. Therefore, address above, this article presents hardware–software design implementation an integrated scalable platform for performing outdoor real-time modern PV/OPV located at altitudes. The allows performance conditions by acquiring data from monitoring stations proposed characterizing solar panels mini-modules relevant information analyze power generation capacity efficiency. Furthermore, other devices new PV can be easily added, achieving a scale-up platform. A preliminary study emerging was carried out three altitudes tropical climate region. From results, copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) technology best with average PCE 9.64%; OPV has behavior high temperatures voltage loss rate 0.0206 V/°C; cadmium telluride (CdTe) is most affected temperature, 0.0803 V/°C.