A comprehensive analysis of advanced solar panel productivity and efficiency through numerical models and emotional neural networks

Sci Rep. 2025 Jan 2;15(1):259. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-70682-2.

Abstract

This study presents an in-depth analysis and evaluation of the performance of a standard 200 W solar cell, focusing on the energy and exergy aspects. A significant research gap exists in the comprehensive integration of numerical models with advanced machine-learning approaches, specifically emotional artificial neural networks (EANN), to simulate and optimize the electrical characteristics and efficiency of solar panels. To address this gap, a numerical model alongside a novel EANN was employed to simulate the system's electrical characteristics, including open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current, system resistances, maximum power point characteristics, and characteristic curves. Mathematical equations for calculating efficiency levels under varying operational conditions were developed. The system's operational and electrical parameters, alongside environmental conditions such as solar radiation, wind speed, and ambient temperature, were empirically observed and documented over a day. A comparative analysis was conducted to validate the model by comparing its results with manufacturer data and experimental observations. During the trial from 7:00 to 17:00, energy efficiency varied from 10.34 to 14.00%, averaging 13.6%, while exergy efficiency ranged from 13.57 to 16.41%, with an average of 15.70%. The results from the EANN model indicate that the proposed method for forecasting energy, exergy, and power is feasible, offering a significant reduction in computational expense compared to traditional numerical models. The integration of numerical modeling with EANN enhances simulation accuracy and the developed equations enable real-time efficiency calculations. Empirical validation under varying environmental conditions improves predictive capabilities for solar panel performance. Additionally, operational efficiency assessments aid in better design and deployment of solar energy systems, and computational costs for large-scale solar energy simulations are reduced.

Keywords: Comparative analysis; Energy and exergy efficiency; Environmental conditions; Machine-learning; Solar cell.