Comparative Analysis of Crystalline Silicon Solar Cell Characteristics in an Individual, Series, and Parallel Configuration and an Assessment of the Effect of Temperature on Efficiency †

Solar energy is gaining immense significance as a renewable energy source owing to its environmentally friendly nature and sustainable attributes. Crystalline silicon solar cells are the prevailing choice for harnessing solar power. However, the efficiency of these cells is greatly influenced by their configuration and temperature. This research aims to explore the current–voltage (I−V) characteristics of individual, series, and parallel configurations in crystalline silicon solar cells under varying temperatures. Additionally, the impact of different temperature conditions on the overall efficiency and Fill Factor of the solar cell was analyzed. With the aid of a solar simulator and required conditions, the I−V characteristics of each configuration—individual, series, and parallel—were obtained. The solar panel was subjected to various temperature settings, and I−V characteristics were obtained for each configuration to calculate the maximum power and Fill Factor for each case. In addition to this, the results showed that the parallel configuration has a larger power output, followed by the individual and series configurations. Additionally, the temperature of the solar panel had a significant effect on the output power of the solar cells. The maximum output power is also affected by temperature variation. The Fill Factor, on the other hand, was observed to be dependent on the configuration but had no significant variation with respect to the temperature. The effect of solar irradiance was also observed in a configuration with a definite temperature. This research offers valuable insights into the ideal configuration and optimal temperature for achieving maximum efficiency in crystalline silicon solar cells. Hence, a definite configuration with optimum temperature yields maximum power output and helps in attaining maximum efficiency.