Cell string optimizer boosts solar panels by 30 per cent
Cell-string optimiser technology from Maxim Integrated Products creates DC/DC converters that replace the bypass diode, and perform maximum power point tracking (MPPT) deep inside the PV module.
According to the company, this is the first integrated power IC to perform MPPT and the first to be embedded within the PV module.
By replacing each diode with a MPPT device, the on-off response to performance mismatch is eliminated; every cell-string contributes maximum power, says the company, without interfering with the power production capability of others. This leads to increased energy production, eliminating collateral performance loss due to module mismatch, degradation, soiling, localised shading, and row shading loss mechanisms.
According to the company, the ICs offer best-in-class shade mitigation, providing 30 per cent additional power over diodes. The integrated IC simplifies design, as no additional hardware, specialised inverters, or data services are required.
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