Optimzing PV Systems eFeature | July 2014
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The conclusion had this to say:
“Generally, the use of MPP tracking at the module level, in order to recover losses due to partial shading, is only profitable in very few cases for a medium level of partial shading.”
The values for yield recovery in partially shaded conditions were almost identical to the NREL study. There are sections on the wheel where the blue shaded areas are outside the red areas and these influencing factors are in favor of MLPE, as they should be. The authors are revealing this truth but are also pointing out that those factors may not be worth while for MLPE with respect to the modest gains. This is not to say MLPE do not have their place since the authors (indirectly) validated my initial premise: there is no one-size-fits-all in this industry; every situation is different.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Optimizing PV systems has changed over the years and, as the technology evolves, perhaps the industry will adopt other ways of enhancing these systems. Whether it is string, micro, optimizer or central inverter, people will use what makes sense to their business models and/or what they feel comfortable with. Technology has changed this industry tremendously in the last 10 years and the good news is that the best has yet to come. The better news is that there is plenty of room in this industry for everyone.