Email this article Performance Variability of Polycrystalline Photovoltaic Modules under Monthly Climatic Fluctuations in Calabar, Nigeria
Abstract
This study presents a high-resolution, in-situ analysis of the monthly performance of a domestic polycrystalline photovoltaic (PV) module operating within Calabar’s humid monsoon climate, translating empirical field observations into practical design thresholds for residential applications and system installers. Using a digital plane-of-array solar irradiance meter in conjunction with an intelligent MPPT tracker, voltage, current, and power were monitored at 30-minute intervals between 06:00 and 18:00 from July to September. The analysis reveals a stable voltage plateau once plane-of-array solar irradiance exceeds approximately 200 W m⁻², corresponding to near-standard test condition (STC) voltages across all months. In contrast, achieving manufacturer-rated current during August–September would require irradiance levels exceeding 1000 W m⁻², which are seldom observed under real outdoor conditions. July exhibited the highest output current and power, while September recorded the lowest, despite August having the fewest sunshine hours. Notably, output power remained approximately uniform across the 0–450 W m⁻² irradiance range, irrespective of month. At irradiance levels above approximately 400 W m⁻², conversion efficiency follows the order July > August > September, with the module’s rated maximum power appearing unattainable in September under the observed operating conditions.
Significance/Novelty: (i) Provides location-specific, month-resolved operating thresholds (≥200 W m⁻² for voltage stability; >1000 W m⁻² required to approach rated current in wetter months), bridging the gap between laboratory specifications and real-world tropical performance; (ii) identifies counterintuitive seasonal behavior, wherein greater sunshine duration does not necessarily yield higher output, thereby informing climate-responsive sizing of storage and inverter systems; and (iii) establishes actionable heuristics—uniform power response under low-to-moderate irradiance and month-dependent efficiency—that reduce performance uncertainty, mitigate premature system abandonment, and promote reliable PV deployment for energy access and net-zero transitions in southern Nigeria.
Citation: Ogbulezie, J., Nwokolo, S., & Njok, A. (2025). Performance Variability of Polycrystalline Photovoltaic Modules under Monthly Climatic Fluctuations in Calabar, Nigeria. Trends in Renewable Energy, 12(1), 1-19. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.17737/tre.2026.12.1.00195
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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17737/tre.2026.12.1.00195
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