Advancements in PV Array Reconfiguration Techniques: Review Article

Abstract

Shadowing is a pervasive and complex issue that negatively impacts the performance of photovoltaic (PV) systems by causing a substantial reduction in output power and producing multiple power peaks in characteristic curves. These negative impacts are not merely proportional to the shaded area but are linked to configuration or reconfiguration of PV array and pattern of shadow. PV array reconfiguration has been proven to be effective in mitigating the negative impacts of shadowing. This research systematically evaluates sixty-seven established PV array reconfiguration techniques, with a focus on their ability to enhance profitability, optimize power extraction, and support smooth integration that offers easiness to the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) operations. Each technique is further analyzed for scalability to accommodate various PV array sizes and conditions, as well as for hardware complexity, which directly affects adaptability and implementation feasibility. This research work serves as an interesting reference for researchers, industry, and PV practitioners, offering comparisons in terms of the factors mentioned above that aid in the promising selection of PV array reconfiguration techniques under certain specific circumstances.