The storage of photovoltaic energy by supercapacitors is studied by using two approaches. An overview on the integration of supercapacitors in solar energy conversion systems is previously provided. First, a realized experimental setup of charge/discharge of supercapacitors fed by a photovoltaic array has been operated with fine data acquisition. The second approach consists in simulating photovoltaic energy storage by supercapacitors with a faithful and accessible model composed of solar irradiance evaluation, equivalent electrical circuit for photovoltaic conversion, and a multibranch circuit for supercapacitor. Both the experimental and calculated results are confronted, and an error of 1% on the stored energy is found with a correction largely within % of the transmission line capacitance according to temperature. 1. Introduction Abundant and available sun radiation makes attractive systems which convert solar energy into electricity like photovoltaic modules or solar thermal power plants. To overcome the intermittency of the solar energy source, batteries have to be coupled with short-time storage devices like supercapacitors which enable charge/discharge cycles inferior to 10？s with kW/kg specific power [1]. In solar energy conversion systems, supercapacitors are operated when high power demand is requested or when supplied electrical power needs adjustment [2]. As examples, they furnish significant power to overcome the initial inertia at a solar pump start and allow quality power when operating with grid-connected photovoltaic inverters. Integration in microgeneration systems enables numerous applications [1]: road signs and lighting, display of bus schedules, parking fee-machines, remote weather stations, system commands, automatic distributors, emergency lights, and compressors. Nevertheless, other uses of supercapacitors fed by solar energy have been envisaged for the last decade as reviewed below. Different algorithms have been developed to regulate the power supplied by hybrid devices for a given load or utilization grid. Kelleher and Ringwood implemented a computer programme to estimate the savings with renewable electricity microgeneration from wind and solar energy sources for domestic use in which storage could be ensured by batteries and ultracapacitors [3]. Thounthong et al. put to use the fast dynamics of supercapacitors to compensate the slow response of fuel cells in the first instant of a stepped power demand in a source consisting of photovoltaic modules, fuel cells and supercapacitors [4]. Hybrid arrangements with more elements
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