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Title: Recovery of inter-row shading losses using differential power-processing submodule DC–DC converters

Abstract

Large commercial photovoltaic (PV) systems can experience regular and predictable energy loss due to both inter-row shading and reduced diffuse irradiance in tightly spaced arrays. This article investigates the advantages of replacing bypass diodes with submodule-integrated DC-DC converters (subMICs) to mitigate these losses. Yearly simulations of commercial-scale PV systems were conducted considering a range of row-to-row pitches. In the limit case of array spacing (unity ground coverage), subMICs can confer a 7% increase in annual energy output and peak energy density (kW h/m2). Simulation results are based on efficiency assumptions experimentally confirmed by prototype submodule differential power-processing converters.

Authors:
 [1];  [1];  [1]; ORCiD logo [2];  [3]
  1. Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, CO (United States)
  2. National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
  3. Rovira i Virgili Univ. (Spain)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E); European Union (EU)
OSTI Identifier:
1339516
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1344947
Report Number(s):
NREL/JA-5J00-65132
Journal ID: ISSN 0038-092X
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC36-08GO28308; AR0000216; 626117
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Solar Energy
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 135; Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 0038-092X
Publisher:
Elsevier
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
14 SOLAR ENERGY; photovoltaic systems; power electronics; partial shading; energy conversion; power system simulation; MLPE; subMICs; distributed power electronics

Citation Formats

Doubleday, Kate, Choi, Beomseok, Maksimovic, Dragan, Deline, Chris, and Olalla, Carlos. Recovery of inter-row shading losses using differential power-processing submodule DC–DC converters. United States: N. p., 2016. Web. doi:10.1016/j.solener.2016.06.013.
Doubleday, Kate, Choi, Beomseok, Maksimovic, Dragan, Deline, Chris, & Olalla, Carlos. Recovery of inter-row shading losses using differential power-processing submodule DC–DC converters. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2016.06.013
Doubleday, Kate, Choi, Beomseok, Maksimovic, Dragan, Deline, Chris, and Olalla, Carlos. Fri . "Recovery of inter-row shading losses using differential power-processing submodule DC–DC converters". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2016.06.013. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1339516.
@article{osti_1339516,
title = {Recovery of inter-row shading losses using differential power-processing submodule DC–DC converters},
author = {Doubleday, Kate and Choi, Beomseok and Maksimovic, Dragan and Deline, Chris and Olalla, Carlos},
abstractNote = {Large commercial photovoltaic (PV) systems can experience regular and predictable energy loss due to both inter-row shading and reduced diffuse irradiance in tightly spaced arrays. This article investigates the advantages of replacing bypass diodes with submodule-integrated DC-DC converters (subMICs) to mitigate these losses. Yearly simulations of commercial-scale PV systems were conducted considering a range of row-to-row pitches. In the limit case of array spacing (unity ground coverage), subMICs can confer a 7% increase in annual energy output and peak energy density (kW h/m2). Simulation results are based on efficiency assumptions experimentally confirmed by prototype submodule differential power-processing converters.},
doi = {10.1016/j.solener.2016.06.013},
journal = {Solar Energy},
number = C,
volume = 135,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jun 17 00:00:00 EDT 2016},
month = {Fri Jun 17 00:00:00 EDT 2016}
}

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Works referencing / citing this record:

Vertical Bifacial Solar Farms: Physics, Design, and Global Optimization
text, January 2017