Design and evaluation of a low-cost solar simulator and measurement system for low-power photovoltaic panels

Research related to photovoltaic panels comprises different topics starting with modelling solar cells, finding new maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithms, testing existing ones or designing of DC/DC converters for MPPT systems and microgrids that incorporate photovoltaic energy sources. In each of the examples above a deep knowledge of photovoltaic panels is required, as well as a reliable measurement system that can deliver continuous, stable light with enough power to meet standard test conditions (STC) and that can ensure repeatable results. Therefore this paper presents a low-cost solar simulator with a microcontroller-based measurement system, that can be used for various measurements of low-power photovoltaic panels.