LED-Based Low-Cost Educational Platform for Simulating Photovoltaic Systems

Studying photovoltaics in engineering and science curricula is a time-consuming and expensive activity. This is why simulations are used, which, however, do not allow direct observation of the physical phenomena occurring in the devices. Based on an array of LEDs (light-emitting diodes) in photodetection mode, a low-cost educational platform for simulating photovoltaic systems including bypass and blocking diodes was developed. This allowed for the experimental characterization of the system’s I-V and P-V characteristics, obtained with a variable-load method under controlled lighting, as well as the qualitative reproduction of key photovoltaic phenomena such as mismatch and bypass diode activation. Additionally, the system allows for quantitative analyses starting from a reference value of 25 μW, obtained under full illumination conditions. This value will inevitably decrease as the platform’s operating conditions worsen, intentionally generated to study the behavior of the platform. Although the method does not provide a representation of the real photovoltaic field, it provides a simple and low-cost tool for the experimental study of photovoltaic behavior. The paper has been conceived for educational purposes, oriented towards laboratory teaching activities.