A fully reconfigurable series-parallel photovoltaic module for higher energy yields in urban environments

Andres Calcabrini, Mirco Muttillo, Raoul Weegink, Patrizio Manganiello, Miro Zeman and Olindo Isabella

Renewable Energy, 2021, vol. 179, issue C, 1-11

Abstract: Photovoltaic modules in the urban environment are very often exposed to uneven illumination conditions. The electrical interconnection between solar cells in a photovoltaic module limits the power that a solar module can generate under partial shading conditions. In this article, we introduce a PV module that is able to dynamically reconfigure the interconnection between its solar cells to minimise conduction and mismatch losses according to the irradiance distribution on its surface. Using an accurate simulation framework, it is determined that a reconfigurable PV module can generate over 12% more energy than a standard PV module with fixed topology and six bypass diodes, and as much energy as a fixed series-parallel module with six parallel strings, but at significantly lower currents. Simulation results are validated experimentally using a photovoltaic module with six reconfigurable blocks of cells controlled by a switching matrix on a high-performance solar flash simulator.

Keywords: Reconfigurable PV module; Reconfiguration algorithm; Urban PV; Partial shading; Shading tolerance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:179:y:2021:i:c:p:1-11

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2021.07.010

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