  Photovoltaic (PV) systems have received much attention in recent years due to
their ability of efficiently converting solar power into electricity, which
offers important benefits to the environment. PV systems in regions with high
solar irradiation can produce a higher output but the temperature affects their
performance. This paper presents a study on the effect of cold climate at high
altitude on the PV system output. We report a comparative case study, which
presents measurement results at two distinct sites, one at a height of 612
meters and another one at a mountain site at a height of 1764 meters. This case
study applies the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) technique in order to
determine maximum power from the PV panel at different azimuth and altitude
angles. We used an Arduino system to measure and display the attributes of the
PV system. The measurement results indicate an increased efficiency of 42% for
PV systems at higher altitude.
