A Comprehensive, Quantitative Comparison of Inverter Architectures for Various PV Systems, PV Cells, and Irradiance Profiles

Abstract

This paper compares the performance of state-of-the-art inverter architectures for photovoltaic (PV) systems, such as string inverters, power optimizers, or micro inverters, to one another for different locations and PV applications. Since inhomogeneous irradiance patterns significantly influence the performance of PV systems, this study explicitly considers partial shading effects and weather conditions. To improve output energy at shaded locations, an inverter topology applying converters on a submodule level is proposed and evaluated. A MATLAB/Simulink model on the cell level is employed to compare the energy output of different scenarios for 30 years of operation. Additionally, cell mismatch and degradation are considered. Finally, the paper discusses the advantages and drawbacks of each inverter topology regarding different PV applications based on the simulation results. It could be shown that PV systems employing a small number of solar cells (SCs) connected in series feature an enhanced energy output, even for locations without any shading.