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

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 over-view 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 previ-ous 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