Performance comparison of monocrystalline and polycrystalline photovoltaic modules before testing with a cooling system

This investigation is a preliminary study to analyze the impact of cooling system applications on photovoltaic module (PVM) performance. This study aims to determine the PVM specifications before being tested using a cooling system and compare its performance. This research is important because manufacturers do not provide information on the performance operating under irradiance. The test was conducted at a height of 887 m above sea level, with a tilt angle of 11°, facing North direction, with a specific coordinate location of 6°51’58.63″ S and 107°35’26.20" E. Two 120-watt PVM made of monocrystalline and polycrystalline materials were subjected to a six-day testing period. The on-site measurements took place between July 25 and July 30, 2023, starting at approximately 6:00 and ending at 18:00. The measurement for six days exhibited an average irradiance of 501 ± 23 W(max. 973 W); the average temperature of 43.1 ± 0.8 °C (max. 62.3 °C); the PVM generated an average power output of 32.5 ± 1.3 W and 36.8 ± 1.6 W for mono-PVM and poly-PVM, respectively. Furthermore, it showed an efficiency of 12.5 ± 0.1% for mono-PVM and 13.4 ± 0.2% for poly-PVM. However, the average performance of the PVM was not significantly different based on the independent samples t-test method.