Smart Utilization of Batteries in Grid-Connected PV-Plants

Abstract

Energy storage is undoubtedly a crucial aspect for the optimal managing of modern active distribution systems. In this paper, a smart utilization of batteries within grid-connected PV-plants is introduced and discussed. Batteries are utilized for maximizing the power generation of a PV-field operating under partial shading conditions, also obtaining the conventional energy storage task. In fact, batteries are proposed to be utilized in a distributed framework together with simple boost-type DC-DC converters; by this way, the power generated by a PV-field can be maximized also in presence of significant mismatches among different PV-modules connected in series, attaining some important advantages with respect to both conventional PV-plants with a centralized energy storage system or to conventional distributed Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) systems with no batteries. Experimental and numerical data are presented, analyzed and discussed.