A solar simulator for the Renewable Energy instruction laboratory

A solar simulator has been designed, built and characterized for the purpose of laboratory testing of Solar Panels. The solar simulator has been developed using off the shelf Xenon, Halogen and LED bulbs. The light bulbs were organized in such a way so that they approximate the luminous intensity and the spectrum of the sun. The solar simulator is intended to be used by students for the Renewable Energy Laboratory as a controllable indoor test equipment under laboratory conditions for characterizing and testing solar panels. The use of Xenon, Halogen and LED bulbs allows the students to compare the spectrum differences between these light modules and how that affects the characteristics of the solar panel. A control system was attached to the light modules to control the light intensity of the modules. A measurement unit was also attached to the system for plotting the IV characteristics and determining the solar panel parameters (open circuit voltage V, short circuit current I, maximum power point I and V).