In this paper, a linearized equivalent electrical circuit of a photovoltaic generator is developed. The proposed model is based on nonlinear and well-tested current-voltage equations which are however used in an alternative mathematical manner. The application of a linearization process, which differs from the well-known piecewise linear scheme and is based on Taylor’s series approximation, leads to uncoupling of the current and voltage quantities in each time step of a digital simulation. Using the proposed equivalent photovoltaic generator circuit, the application of nodal analysis on equivalent resistive circuits derives a photovoltaic system model of linear algebraic equations. This remarkably simplifies photovoltaic systems modeling because one can develop a photovoltaic generator element in electromagnetic transient programs for power systems analysis, of great value to power engineers who are involved in photovoltaic systems modeling. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.