Fully Integrated and System-Optimized Electronic Solutions on Solar Modules

misc
27.09.2024
authors
Schulte-Huxel, H. and Manthey, T. and Brinker, T. and Ranft, P. and Woock, H. and Hahn, T. and Moerlein, L. and Blankemeyer, S. and Skorcz, A. and Köntges, M. and Manteuffel, D. and Friebe, J.
featured_in
European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (EUPVSEC), Vienna, Austria

abstract

Alternating current PV modules offer various advantages such as easier installation, safer operation and increased efficiency for residential and building-integrated PV systems including small balcony power plants. Although there is a growing market for module level electronics, there are still only limited solutions available. Here, we present the combination of different innovations to raise the potential of simplification and synergies by fully integration of the power electronics into the PV module. We developed a novel, highly efficient and compact power electronics with galvanic isolation offering a fully reactive power-capable inverter topology, utilizing 650 V gallium nitride (GaN) power semiconductors. The communication is enabled by wireless communication based on Wirepas mesh connectivity, allowing a safe and robust operation and flexible expansion of the PV system. The module electronics are connected directly to the cross-connectors of the PV modules, allowing for novel circuit configurations in contrast to conventional bypass diodes that have shown to be a cost-effective approach of limiting the operating range of each substring to prevent hot spot events on the module without significant yield losses. Furthermore, a slot antenna is introduced into the cross connectors of the PV module. The antenna is capacitively fed (through the backsheet) by an aperture coupling printed circuit board (PCB) on the rear side of the module. The fully integrated electronics is attached to the PV module, encapsulated and electrically isolated from the environment by low-pressure molding, which has shown high reliability in accelerated aging tests. We will show experimental results on test structures and finished PV modules being installed on an outdoor test stand.