ABSTRACT
The complex interactions that occur among the components of a Photovoltaic (PV) system are not accounted for intuitively, especially since they are driven by constantly varying conditions of sunlight and temperature. Mathematical models of PV systems require that the user supply component parameters and weather data. Normally a mathematical model will be incorporated into a computer program and ‘fed’ a time series of weather data. This is simulation, or the study of system behaviour via a computerized mathematical model whose inputs are controlled so that they reflect real-world conditions. Many variations can be studied to find the optimum configuration of a system for a given site, new ideas can be tested and the correct operation of an existing system can be verified through comparison with simulation results. The flexibility of many simulation tools also permits them to investigate a wide range of system configurations. Of all the components in a PV system, battery is the most difficult to model accurately.
