Photovoltaic Module-Integrated Capacitors to Facilitate Embedded Power Electronics
Rik Van Dyck (EnergyVille, Universiteit Hasselt, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, IMEC-Solliance, TU Delft - Photovoltaic Materials and Devices)
David Van Nijen (TU Delft - Photovoltaic Materials and Devices)
Mirco Muttillo (TU Delft - Photovoltaic Materials and Devices)
Patrizio Manganiello (TU Delft - Photovoltaic Materials and Devices)
Apostolos Bakovasilis (IMEC-Solliance, EnergyVille, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Universiteit Hasselt)
Tom Borgers (Universiteit Hasselt, IMEC-Solliance, EnergyVille)
Kinichi Onda (Nippon Chemi-Con)
Restu Zulhidza (Nippon Chemi-Con)
Olindo Isabella (TU Delft - Photovoltaic Materials and Devices)
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Abstract
An important part of modern photovoltaic (PV) systems is the so-called power electronics. Its two main goals are to convert the power output of a PV module to the desired voltage, current, and frequency, and to control the operation point of the PV modules for maximum power harvesting. The power electronics and their behavior within a hybrid, smart AC-DC system is currently being studied within the emerging field of photovoltatronics [1]. This coincided with (sub-) module-level power electronics being one of the fastest-growing market segments in the solar industry, namely power converters designed to be used for (a part within) one single PV module. It comes with advantages, such as increased shade tolerance, energy yield, module reliability, safety, and design flexibility. However, module-level converters are nowadays both bulky and expensive, with most of the volume being occupied by passive devices such as inductors and capacitors. These passives also represent a significant share of the converter cost. On top of this, power converters are still the least reliable part of a PV system [2].