A power generation control apparatus (14) includes a solar cell controller (18) and a range determinator (20). The solar cell controller (18), while changing at least one of an operation current and an operation voltage serving as driving variables within a first range, calculates actual power generated by a solar cell (13). The solar cell controller (18) controls the solar cell (13) to generate power by using a driving variable that maximizes the generated power within the first range. The range determinator (20), based on maximum generated power and at least one of a rated PV curve or an approximation line of the rated PV curve and a rated PI curve or an approximation line of the rated PI curve, updates the first range.

Provided is an inverter system capable of more economically and efficiently performing photovoltaic power generation by automatically switching an integrated operation and an independent operation of inverters according to voltage values and current values of photovoltaic panels without a separate communication function. The inverter system for photovoltaic power generation according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is an inverter system which changes direct current power output from a first photovoltaic panel and a second photovoltaic panel to alternating current power and includes: a first inverter and a second inverter, in which all of the outputs of the first and second photovoltaic panels are applied to the first inverter, or the output of the first photovoltaic panel is applied to the first inverter, and the output of the second photovoltaic panel is applied to the second inverter according to output values of the first and second photovoltaic panels.

A cascading regulation system connected to a number of serially connected power sources and uses multiple regulators having different cutoff voltages to provide an output for the local power consumption unit. Each of the regulators is connected to a subset of serially connected power sources and so configured that if the voltage generated at the lowest tap is no longer sufficient for a stable supply to the local power consumption unit, the next higher regulator takes over, and the output voltage drops in small steps reflective of that takeover of the next higher tap. When the voltage generated across a subsection grows, a lower connected tap may take over again, producing a slightly higher output voltage for the local power consumption unit. The cutover steps are chosen such that the output voltage range matches the range given as the acceptable input range for the local power consumption unit.

In an example embodiment, a method to operate a PV module includes measuring module output power collectively generated by a plurality of power conversion circuits of the PV module. The module output power collectively generated by the plurality of power conversion circuits is characterized by a module power output curve having a peak. A current measured output power is compared to a preceding measured output power. Based on a preceding direction variable indicating a side of the peak on which the PV module was previously operating and the comparison of the current measured output power to the preceding measured output power: a current direction variable indicating a side of the peak on which the PV module is currently operating is determined, and a switching period of the power conversion circuits is adjusted.

Devices and methods with a radiant energy convertors on a flotation module operable to dispose the radiant energy convertor in a first direction. A plurality of magnetic connector elements is disposed near one or a plurality of sides of the flotation module and each magnetic connector element is coupled to the radiant energy convertor, wherein said magnetic connector elements operate to magnetically attract and physically couple one or a plurality of adjacent flotation modules and electrically couple a set of electrodes that operate to connect to an adjacent magnetic connector element located on a second similar adjacent flotation module when at least two magnetic connector elements are located in proximity to one another thereby providing a power grid of floating solar power modules.

The disclosure relates to a method for signaling partial shadowing within a PV generator including at least two partial PV generators connected in parallel. The method includes performing a reference impedance measurement on each of the at least two partial PV generators in a state of uniform irradiation of the PV generator, and determining at least one reference resonant property of each of the at least two partial PV generators from the reference impedance measurement. Furthermore, impedance measurements are carried out on the at least two partial PV generators at a first operating point of the PV generator during operation of the PV generator. Resonant properties of the partial PV generators are determined from the impedance measurements. Partial shadowing within the PV generator is detected and signaled if a difference between the resonant properties of the partial PV generators at the first operating point differs from a difference between the reference resonant properties of the partial PV generators. The disclosure also relates to an apparatus suitable for carrying out the method.

A proposed electronic apparatus is capable of charging a secondary battery and performing data communication using a solar cell while suppressing effects of ambient light even when the intensity of light radiated to the solar cell is low. The electronic apparatus includes a control circuit 202 and a resistance 205. The control circuit 202 receives data based on an output voltage of a solar cell 201. The resistance 205 is connected between electrodes of the solar cell 201. The control circuit 202 controls a resistance value of the resistance 205 based on whether during an operation of receiving data or not.

The present disclosure relates to reconfigurable voltaic modules. One example embodiment includes a photovoltaic module. The photovoltaic module includes a plurality of photovoltaic cells arranged in a grid having logical rows and columns. The photovoltaic module also includes a plurality of non-reconfigurable interconnects electrically interconnecting subsets of the plurality of photovoltaic cells to form a plurality of cell strings. In addition, the photovoltaic module includes a plurality of reconfigurable interconnects. Each cell string includes at least four photovoltaic cells connected in an electrical series from a first cell to a last cell, the first cell and the last cell being located on a same edge of the grid.

For monitoring an inverter that includes separate input-side connectors for multiple direct-current generators with regard to the occurrence of a critical fault current, differential currents in at last two pairs of input lines are measured separately in the inverter. The at last two pairs of input lines conduct the currents that are fed in at different input-side connectors, and all pairs of input lines in their entirety transmit all currents that are fed in at the connectors. The differential currents are compared with a limit value separately for each pair of input lines. A case of the limit value being exceeded is recognized as a fault. In addition, a sum of simultaneously occurring differential currents in all pairs of input lines is determined and the sum is compared with a further limit value, wherein a case of the further limit value being exceeded is also recognized as a fault.

A method for analyzing performance of a solar photovoltaic installation data indicating measured value of power generated by the photovoltaic installation receives and stores that data in a database. An expected output of the installation for at least one period of a test day using a first method is determined. The first expected output of the installation is compared with the measured value of power generated. If the expected output of the installation determined by the first method differs from the measured value by more than an acceptable tolerance, an expected output using another method is determined. If the expected output of the installation determined by the other method differs from the measured value by more than an acceptable tolerance, an under performance warning for the solar photovoltaic installation is issued.