# Photovoltaic modules outdoor characterisation and modelling
## Project Description
Photovoltaic production depends on many factors starting from the choice of the PV technology and the conditions to which PV modules will be exposed in terms of exposure to sunlight, temperature, dirt, shading, atmospheric water (humidity, rain, snow, dew, frost) and the surrounding environment.PV modules are usually qualified by the manufacturers under controlled laboratory conditions (known as the Standard Test Conditions, STC, and Normal Operating Conditions, NOCT), which are useful to assess and compare the performance in a standardized way, but which might radically differ from real-life conditions.
The datafile associated to this document was constructed in the frame of the PhD thesis of Moira Itzel Torres Aguilar (2020-2024, https://theses.fr/2024IPPAX025) The main objective of this PhD project was to develop key performance indicators of PV systems under operating outdoor conditions that rely on data produced in the PV field. Three scientific steps are necessary to reach this general objective:
1) What are the impacts on PV module performance of environmental conditions (e.g. geometry, solar spectrum, …), for different panel technologies?
2) Which environmental impacts can be assessed in real PV systems equipped with optimizers?
3) What new PV-system performance indicators could be developed to support monitoring and maintenance of real PV systems?
---
## Standardized Metadata
### File Information
- **File Name:** data_pv1_sirta_2015_2021_10min.csv
- **Creation Date:** 2025-07-21
- **Data Date Range:** [Start Date] to [End Date]
- **Contact:** [e4c_datahub@ip-paris.fr](mailto:e4c_datahub@ip-paris.fr)
- **DOI:** https://doi.org/10.14768/8bb5e4cc-485a-49bb-88ee-f05cc8d2573c
- **License:** [CC BY-NC 4.0 ](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) | The use of data and code for AI training is forbidden without explicit authorization.
### Data Collection Methodology
See the PV1_SIRTA_installation_data_description_Aug2025.pdf file for more information.
Detailed measurements (including the I-V curve key points, module temperature, and POA irradiance) are available for 5 PV modules, as well as meteorological measurements, solar irradiance (global, direct, diffuse) and some basic calculations (solar angles).
The PV1 experimental photovoltaic research platform was installed at the SIRTA observatory in 2014 and is made up of five PV modules of different technologies and a meteorological station. The technologies installed are: a-Si/µc-Si, sc-Si, CIS, HIT, and CdTe. All panels are oriented to the south (azimuth angle of 0°) with a tilt angle of 27°. Despite all modules being installed in 2014 and being exposed to the same outdoors conditions since then, measurement availability is not the same for all.
### Acknowledgement request
Users of these data are kindly requested to acknowledge the E4C DataHub service when publishing results derived from this dataset. Proper acknowledgment helps us demonstrate the scientific impact of the infrastructure and supports the continued operation and development of the service.
When using these data in a publication, presentation, or any public dissemination of results, please include one of the following acknowledgments:
#### Recommended acknowledgment
Data used in this work were accessed through the E4C DataHub, a data service of the Energy4Climate Interdisciplinary Center (E4C) at Institut Polytechnique de Paris. The Energy4Climate Interdisciplinary Center is partly supported by the 3rd Programme d’Investissements d’Avenir [ANR-18-EUR-0006-02].
#### Recommended acknowledgment (short version)
This work uses data provided by the E4C DataHub of the Energy4Climate Interdisciplinary Center (E4C), Institut Polytechnique de Paris, partly supported by the 3rd Programme d’Investissements d’Avenir [ANR-18-EUR-0006-02].
#### Dataset citation
Torres Aguilar, M. I., & Badosa, J. (2025). Photovoltaic modules outdoor characterisation and modelling. E4C DataHub, Energy4Climate Interdisciplinary Center (E4C), Institut Polytechnique de Paris. https://doi.org/10.14768/8bb5e4cc-485a-49bb-88ee-f05cc8d2573c
### Authors and contributors
Moira Itzel Torres Aguilar
Jordi Badosa
---
## Standardized Variables Section
### Variable Definitions (Machine-Readable Format)
```YAML
variables:
- raw_name: "datetime"
descriptive_name: "Timestamp"
description: "Date and time in UTC. Each timestamp corresponds to the starting time for the measurement period (10 min)."
unit: "YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS"
- raw_name: "Imax"
descriptive_name: "Current measured at the maximum power point MPP"
description: "Current measured at the maximum power point MPP for the 5 panels on the platform: Sharp, FranceWatts, SolarFrontier, Panasonic, FirstSolar."
unit: "A"
- raw_name: "Vmax"
descriptive_name: "Voltage measured at the maximum power point MPP"
description: "Voltage measured at the maximum power point MPP for the 5 panels on the platform: Sharp, FranceWatts, SolarFrontier, Panasonic, FirstSolar."
unit: "V"
- raw_name: "Isc"
descriptive_name: "Measured short-circuit current"
description: "Measured short-circuit current for the 5 panels on the platform: Sharp, FranceWatts, SolarFrontier, Panasonic, FirstSolar."
unit: "A"
- raw_name: "Voc"
descriptive_name: "Measured open-circuit voltage "
description: "Measured open-circuit voltage for the 5 panels on the platform: Sharp, FranceWatts, SolarFrontier, Panasonic, FirstSolar."
unit: "V"
- raw_name: "FF"
descriptive_name: "Fill factor"
description: "Fill factor for the 5 panels on the platform: Sharp, FranceWatts, SolarFrontier, Panasonic, FirstSolar."
unit: "%"
- raw_name: "Tp"
descriptive_name: "Panel Temperature"
description: "Panel temperature measured on the backface with a PT100 sensor for the 5 panels on the platform: Sharp, FranceWatts, SolarFrontier, Panasonic, FirstSolar."
unit: "°C"
- raw_name: "Pmax"
descriptive_name: "Power"
description: "Power at Maximum Power Point measured from the I-V curve for the 5 panels on the platform: Sharp, FranceWatts, SolarFrontier, Panasonic, FirstSolar."
unit: "W"
- raw_name: "CM3Dn"
descriptive_name: "Irradiance"
description: "Plane of Array irradiance measured next to the PV panel with a pyranometer SR01 from Hukseflux"
unit: "W/m2"
- raw_name: "WS_ms_2"
descriptive_name: "Wind speed"
description: "Wind speed measured next to the PV panels "
unit: "m/s"
- raw_name: "AirTC"
descriptive_name: "Air temperature"
description: "Air temperature measured next to the PV panels."
unit: "°C"
- raw_name: "RH"
descriptive_name: "Relative Humidity "
description: "Relative Humidity of the air"
unit: "%"
- raw_name: "Direct_Solar_Flux"
descriptive_name: "Direct normal Irradiance"
description: "Direct normal Irradiance, measured on the top roof station located 600m south from the PV panels."
unit: "W/m2"
- raw_name: "Diffuse_Solar_Flux"
descriptive_name: "Diffuse horizontal Irradiance"
description: "Diffuse Horizontal Irradiance, measured on the top roof station located 600m south from the PV panels."
unit: "W/m2"
- raw_name: "Global_Solar_Flux"
descriptive_name: "Global Horizontal Irradiance"
description: "Global Horizontal Irradiance, measured on the top roof station located 600m south from the PV panels."
unit: "W/m2"
- raw_name: "SZA"
descriptive_name: "solar zenith angle"
description: "Solar zenith angle "
unit: "degree"
- raw_name: "SAA"
descriptive_name: "solar azimuth angle"
description: "Solar azimuth angle "
unit: "degree"
- raw_name: "AOI"
descriptive_name: "angle of incidence with respect to the plane of the PV modules "
description: "Angle of incidence with respect to the plane of the PV modules "
unit: "degree"
```