Distributed high efficiency PV energy conversion system******

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This Engage project aims at the research and development of new high efficiency DC-DC converters for distributed PV string-level Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) based modular solar-energy conversion system. The work will be conducted in collaboration with Canadian industrial partner, Solar Earth Technologies. The company specializes in the development and marketing of the electrified roadways which embed the road surface with a solar photovoltaic (PV) system to convert the conventional concrete and asphalt based roads into distributed solar power generator.****One of the technology challenges for the solar-powered roadways to be widely adopted in large-scale solar energy generation resides in the shading in solar systems. A DC-DC power electronic converters with MPPT control is critical for the PV system to obtain high harvesting efficiency in the shading condition. The conventional DC-DC converter is based on centralized MPPT control. The main drawback of the centralized converter is that the complete PV field is operated at one overall maximal power point which is usually not the maximum power point for each individual PV module. ****The objective of this NSERC Engage Grant project is to investigate the distributed MPPT-based modular solar-energy conversion system which can perform an independent MTTP for each PV module and will improve the overall solar power yield and conversion efficiency of PV arrays. The UBC team will carry out the design and prototyping of the new DC-DC converters and distributed MPPT control. The research project will contribute to Canadian clean energy technology development to enable large-scale solar energy generation, conversion and utilization with increased efficiency and reduced energy cost.**