PERFORMANCE OF A NOVEL THREE-PHASE PHOTOVOLTAIC INVERTER FOR MODULE INTEGRATION

Within the European project PV-MIPS (Photovoltaic Module with Integrated Power Conversion System) an inverter for the integration into a 240W high-voltage thin-film PV module in CIS (Copper Indium Diselenide) technology has been designed. This combination of PV module and inverter forms an AC module. At first, the paper provides an overview about present photovoltaic module inverters. Currently a truly integrated AC module is not available on the European market. Against this background, the properties of the novel PV-MIPS inverter are outlined. In order to overcome the previous technical drawbacks of AC modules, an integrated approach is followed. All system components (PV module, inverter, electrical connections, mounting) are addressed and will be optimised in order to reach a system tuned for best performance that points out the well known inherent system advantages of AC modules (e.g. module-based power point tracking). Finally, the performance of the inverter is demonstrated by means of laboratory as well as outdoor tests.