The current paper presents an experimental validation of photovoltaic (PV) source emulation using a real-time dSpace controller. The PV source emulator is a nonlinear power electronic device used to provide in real-time the electrical behavior of PV panels by tracking the PV current–voltage (I–V) characteristic. It aims to deliver nearly the same current and voltage as an actual PV module without depending on atmospheric conditions. This innovative tool is able to aid researchers in PV systems to perform their tests and measurements at the desired weather parameters without time, space and cost constraints. The proposed PV emulator is based on a simple and efficient adaptive state feedback control that ensures good accuracy and high dynamic response compared to the existing commercial PV emulators based on the programmable power supply, which improves significantly the static and dynamic performances of existing PV emulators.

The aim of this research work is to investigate the influence of temperature and wind-blown dust on solar energy production in a desert region of Morocco. Moreover, it aims to assess the quality of water, in particular the groundwater used for the maintenance of photovoltaic panels (quality analysis). This region is characterized by very high temperatures and wind-blown dust in the summer, which has a major impact on the production of the photovoltaic panels. Before installing this maintenance system (cooling and cleaning using water), we decided to assess the quality of this water, whose temperature generally varies between 10 and 16 °C at a depth of 4 m, whatever the season. This is an important, stable, and sustainable source of water that can be entirely used to protect the photovoltaic modules from wind-blown dust and temperature in order to improve their efficiency. However, this water can also have a major impact on the quality of the energy. It can be contaminated with limestone and salts, which can cause the photovoltaic panels to block. All the research and studies carried out in the context of maintenance using water do not take into account the nature of this water (whether it is good or bad). After simulating our model on the Matlab-Simulink environment, we can see that the temperature has a significant influence on solar energy production (a reduction of power by 20% at 45 °C) in this region. Moreover, after the assessment of the water quality in our school laboratory, we found that the water, and especially the groundwater in this desert region of Morocco, are suitable for the maintenance of photovoltaic panels.

This paper aims to model and control the dual-fed asynchronous generator (DFIG). The modeling and vector control were simulated using MATLAB, followed by the application of the Backstepping control strategy. A comparative study between two DFIG control strategies, fuzzy logic control (FLC) and Back-stepping control, was conducted. The results for the Backstepping approach are discussed and compared with FLC, highlighting that the Backstepping technique addresses robustness issues regarding variations in operating conditions and internal parameters. Both control strategies are applied to a wind turbine system, and the simulation results and robustness tests are analyzed.