Temperature sensitivity of solar photovoltaic systems in makurdi, nigeria

Abstract

Solar energy constitutes a pivotal renewable energy source, particularly in regions that receive high levels of direct sunlight such as Makurdi, Nigeria. The efficiency of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems is, however, constrained by a number of environmental parameters, among which ambient temperature ranks as one of the most influential. The inherent properties of semiconductor materials cause PV module efficiency to decline as operating temperature rises above the standard test condition (STC) of 25 °C. This phenomenon is of particular concern in tropical locations where elevated temperatures prevail throughout much of the year. The present study investigates the temperature sensitivity of a polycrystalline silicon PV system installed at the Solar Hybrid Power Plant of Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi. Monthly mean temperature, output power, and percentage deviation from STC were recorded and analysed over a period spanning July 2021 to June 2023. A temperature coefficient of maximum power (Pmax ) of −0.41%/°C was used for the assessment. The results reveal a consistent inverse relationship between temperature and PV power output across all three observation years. Months in which mean temperatures exceeded 28 °C generally exhibited negative power outputs, whereas months with temperatures closer to or below the STC value recorded substantially higher power yields. March 2022 recorded the highest temperature of 30.92 °C with the most severe output deficit of −471.76 kWh, while December 2021 recorded the lowest temperature of 24.29 °C and the highest output of 425.36 kWh. A linear regression analysis of aggregated data yielded a strong negative correlation between mean temperature and output power. These findings underscore the need for temperature mitigation strategies, including passive cooling, hybrid PV thermal (PVT) integration, and appropriate module orientation, to optimise photovoltaic energy harvesting in Makurdi and comparable tropical environments.