The solar cell generates voltage when exposed to sunlight, producing direct current electricity, the power being equal to product of current and voltage. Literature and research papers shows negative temperature coefficient for both dc voltage and dc power for cell temperature greater than 25oC. However, no attempt has yet been made to visualise and evaluate as to how the dc voltage, dc current and dc power varies with irradiance and temperature acting concurrently on the PV module. This paper evaluates the relative contribution of temperature and irradiance particularly POA (Plane of Array Irradiance) acting concurrently on the dc power output of a multicrystalline PV module. The cell temperature varies linearly with irradiance but due to the dominating effect of high irradiance relative to slight increase in temperature, a multicrystalline PV module gives outstanding performance at high cell temperature and high irradiance, showing remarkably overall positive effect of high cell temperature and high irradiance. In contrast to literature this paper brings forward two most vital facts. Firstly, dc power increases with increase in temperature and maximum dc voltage about 80% of its rated value is obtained at cell temperature 58.14oC. Secondly, despite the negative temperature coefficient of voltage for cell temperature greater than 49oC instead of 25oC, significant dc voltage and dc power is obtained only for cell temperature greater than 49oC. This paper also explores the input condition required to obtain high energy yield.

Multicrystalline PV module; Plane of array irradiance (POA); Cell temperature; DC voltage; DC power; Efficiency.