An improved single-diode model parameters extraction at different operating conditions with a view to modeling a photovoltaic generator: A comparative study Abdelkader Abbassi a,⇑ , Rabiaa Gammoudi b , Mohamed Ali Dami a , Othman Hasnaoui b , Mohamed Jemli a a University of Tunis, Higher National Engineering School Of Tunis (ENSIT), Engineering Laboratory of Industrial Systems and Renewable Energies (LISIER), 5 avenue Taha Hussein, PO Box 56, 1008 Tunis, Tunisia b University of Carthage, National Institute of Applied Sciences of Tunisia (INSAT), Unit of Research (ERCO), North Urban Center, 1080 Tunis Cedex, Tunisia article info Article history: Received 21 January 2017 Received in revised form 12 April 2017 Accepted 24 June 2017 Keywords: Parameters extraction Photovoltaic (PV) panel Performance evaluation Newton-Raphson algorithm Genetic Algorithm (GA) approach Accuracy abstract This paper proposes advanced analytical, numerical and genetic algorithm (GA) approaches for retrieving the parameters of photovoltaic (PV) panel. A comparative study for extracting the five parameters of a single diode PV model is presented. Based on the datasheet values, a numerical based Newton- Raphson algorithm is investigated for solving the current-voltage relation of a single diode solar PV model. To highlight the rigorous performance of our models, a second analytical model is proposed. For improving the accuracy of solar panel parameters, a technique based on GA is established. This approach is based on the problem of research and optimization of the extracted parameters as an objec- tive function. To account for variation in solar radiation and temperature, these models are presented under the reference and real operating conditions. The performances of the proposed algorithms are com- pared by using MATLAB scripts programming, and the theoretical advantages of GA model were demon- strated. The different models are validated experimentally by various tests of temperature and solar irradiance variation. The experimental results indicate that the GA model has a very satisfactory perfor- mance compared with the two other models and it offers good compromise between accuracy and fastness. Ó 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction During last twenty years, solar energy, like wind energy, is one of the most attractive concerns. Due to the intensive presence of the Saharan climate especially in Africa, solar energy must be among the best renewable sources that have gained great popular- ity due to its high availability and predictability. With the trend to serve exponential demand for electricity as their economies grow, the production of electricity from solar energy sources has a great interest to developing countries, especially because it has many isolated and remote regions from electricity distribution networks. To solve this problem, a highest priority must be accorded to the exploitation of the solar potential must be a priority. From its discovery, the conversion of solar energy into electrical energy using photovoltaic modules reveals an undesirable prob- lem. The non-linearity of the photovoltaic modules outputs, pre- sents today a very respectful occupation of the researchers. In order to describe the behavior of photovoltaic cells, Different models based on the current-voltage curve of a P-N junction were used. Recently, various researches on the prediction of the current- voltage characteristic curve are founded in the literature (Salaux et al., 2011). In this context, the two diodes model is known as the most accurate model for representing the equivalent electrical circuit of a photovoltaic cell. Nevertheless, additional difficulties and a longer calculation time are appended to solving the basic equation describing the two diodes model, since their parameters are defined in a nonlin- ear manner (Ishaque et al., 2011a, 2011b). As the most commonly used, the single diode model can be categorized into two main types (Dongue et al., 2012). The simplified four-parameter model neglecting shunt resistance by assuming it as infinite value in the equivalent electrical circuit and the five-parameter model that characterizes the current-voltage curve of the cell by maintaining the effect of the shunt resistor. The five-parameter model evaluates the photocurrent, the saturation current, the series and shunt resistors and the ideality factor of the diode. Various methods are conceivable to determine the parameters of the equivalent electric circuit of a solar cell. However, the http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2017.06.057 0038-092X/Ó 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. ⇑ Corresponding author. E-mail addresses: abd_abbassi@yahoo.com (A. Abbassi), medali.dami@esstt.rnu. tn (M. Ali Dami), mohamed.jemli@ensit.rnu.tn (M. Jemli). Solar Energy 155 (2017) 478–489 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Solar Energy journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/solener