Introduction

Solar energy is an important and increasingly used renewable energy source to meet global energy needs and combat climate change. However, the power generation of an PV-module, hereafter referred to as a solar module, is highly dependent on environmental conditions such as temperature, irradiation and shading. Shading in particular can lead to a significant reduction in power generation, as the current flow through the affected cells is interrupted and thus the maximum power cannot be achieved. In order to optimise the power generation of solar modules even under fluctuating environmental conditions, various MPPT-algorithms are used.

A MPPT-algorithm determines the optimal operating point between the solar module and the connected load. In doing so, the resistance of the load is adjusted by power adjustment to such an extent that the maximum power can flow between the solar module and the load.

Within the scope of this work, a solar module optimiser is to be developed that is programmable and thus makes it possible to investigate various MPPT-algorithms with a higher programming language. The solar module optimiser should thereby increase the efficiency of the solar cells and thus improve the energy yield.

The use of a higher programming language makes the topic accessible to a wider circle of developers and enables rapid prototype development. The objective of the thesis is to implement the programmable solar module optimiser and to answer the questions arising during the development process with suitable solution approaches. Furthermore, this work will also investigate the feasibility of implementing a project with required real-time capability using the programming language Mircopython. Finally, it will be experimentally investigated which of the selected MPPT-algorithms allows the best power generation in the presence of shadowing.

Overall, the development of the programmable solar module optimiser should contribute to being able to compare different algorithms and provide a platform for the development of new algorithms.