Implication of MPPT on converter reliability for PV systems

Abstract

With the increasing use of renewable energies around the world, particularly photovoltaic (PV) systems, considerable research efforts have been dedicated to achieving maximum efficiency. Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) techniques are proposed for PV systems to increase the energy capture. The type of MPPT method utilized in a system can directly influence the energy capture positively, however may also have an unwanted side effect in causing voltage stresses in the converter components which may effect the overall reliability of the system. This paper provides a preliminary investigation of the impact of the choice of MPPT method on the voltage fluctuations in the DC-link and PV-side capacitor of a PV system. The investigation is a first step in working towards a method for assessing the impact of the choice of MPPT method on the reliability of the converter.