Embedded Real-Time Implementation of a Two-Diode Model Photovoltaic Emulator Using dSPACE for Hardware Validation

This paper presents the design, implementation, and experimental validation of a real-time embedded photovoltaic (PV) emulator based on the two-diode model, using a dSPACE DS1103 platform for hardware validation. The proposed system aims to accurately reproduce the electrical behavior of PV modules under varying environmental conditions, including irradiance and temperature variations. The emulator architecture combines a lookup-table-based modelling approach with a programmable DC power source, enabling deterministic real-time execution and efficient implementation. A multi-level control structure is employed, integrating inner-loop regulation, model-based reference generation, and feedback control to ensure accurate tracking of the PV current–voltage (I–V) characteristics. Experimental results demonstrate that the emulator achieves high accuracy, with an approximation error of approximately 1.2% under standard operating conditions. The system exhibits stable dynamic behavior characterized by a time constant of approximately 0.5 s, with performance maintained across different sampling intervals and load conditions. Additional simulations confirm that the two-diode model preserves high accuracy over a temperature range of 15–60 °C, with deviations below 2%. The results highlight that the two-diode model provides an optimal trade-off between modelling accuracy and computational complexity for real-time embedded applications. The proposed emulator offers a flexible and reliable platform for laboratory validation of photovoltaic behavior and provides the foundation for future testing of maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithms, power electronic converters, and embedded control strategies under controlled conditions.