Renewable energy is considered to be one of the most promising alternatives for the growing energy demand in response to depletion of fossil fuels and undesired global warming issue. With such perspective, Solar Cells and Fuel Cells are most viable, environmentally sound, and sustainable energy sources for power generation. Solar and Fuel cells have created great interests in modern applications including distributed energy generation to provide clean energy. The purpose of this thesis was to perform a detailed analysis and modeling of Solar and Fuel cells using Cadence SPICE, and to investigate dynamic interactions between the modules and power conversion circuits. Equivalent electronic static and dynamic models for Solar and Fuel Cells, their electrical characteristics, and typical power loss mechanisms associated with them are demonstrated with simulation results. Power conversion circuits for integration with the dynamic models of these renewable low voltage sources are specifically chosen to boost and regulate the input low dc voltage from the modules. The scope of this work was to analyze and model solar and fuel cells to study their terminal characteristics, power loss mechanisms, modules and their dynamics when interfaced with power converters, which would lead to better understanding of these renewable sources in power applications
