Pointing at Maximum Power for PV
Solar panels in Isle Royale National Park, an island in Lake Superior (MI) that is 47 miles from the nearest electric utility.Copyright US Department of Energy http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/images/photo_09803.jpg
Student teams measure voltage and current in order to determine the power output of a photovoltaic (PV) panel. They vary the resistance in a simple circuit connected to the panel to demonstrate the effects on voltage, current, and power output. After collecting data, they calculate power for each resistance setting, creating a graph of current vs. voltage, and identifying the maximum power point.
Photovoltaic (PV) panels utilize a scientific technology that creates power from solar radiation. Because PV panels are expensive and their power production is limited by the amount of sunlight available, it is important for them to run as efficiently as possible. One way to improve PV panel efficiency is to adjust the resistance in the design of the electrical circuit to create a combination of voltage and current that results in the greatest power output. Engineers must understand how to control a basic circuit in order to design PV arrays that operate as efficiently as possible.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Measure the voltage and current of a photovoltaic (PV) electrical circuit.
- Explain how to calculate and maximize the DC power output of a PV system.