Effect of Meteorological Parameters on the Performance of Photovoltaics Installed under the Guinea Savannah Atmosphere in Ogoja, Cross Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

A thorough experimental investigation was carried out to study the effect of some meteorological parameters on the performance of photovoltaics installed under the guinea savannah atmosphere in Ogoja, Cross River State, Nigeria  by in-situ measurement approach using a precision digital solar power meter, an accurate digital hygrometer, precision digital infrared gun thermometer and a digital high precision photovoltaic smart panel maximum power point tracker (MPPT) tester to track and determine the maximum power, voltage and current produced by the photovoltaic module. The result reveals that stability in voltage should be expected between relative humidity levels of 67% to 47% while erratic drop in voltage below 47% of relative humidity should be expected which hinders the PV module from attaining 100% efficiency. In addition, the temperature of the study location seems favorable as on the average the panel temperature will rarely exceed 40⁰C for months besides January which makes it possible for the PV module to attain 90% efficiency. Also, with an altitude of 85m above sea level coupled with the fact that as early as 9:00am the solar power level is close to 800W/m² makes the location a good site for the installation of solar farm for harvesting solar energy.