An Integer Linear Programming Approach for Maximum Power Extraction from Solar PV Plants under Partial Shading

Abstract

Partial shading in solar photovoltaic (SPV) plants, particularly in urban environments, is a common challenge caused by nearby trees, buildings, or other fixed obstructions, leading to a significant reduction in overall system efficiency. Dynamic and static PV array reconfiguration strategies are widely regarded as effective approaches for mitigating the adverse effects of partial shading. However, Dynamic Array Reconfiguration (DAR) is rarely adopted in practical systems due to high switching complexity and substantial computational requirements. In contrast, Static Array Reconfiguration (SAR) does not require complex switching arrangements or additional computational resources, making it more suitable for real-world implementation. However, SAR is a one-time configuration and cannot adapt to dynamically changing shading conditions. Existing SAR techniques rearrange PV modules based on assumed shading regions rather than the actual shading pattern, which limits their effectiveness under practical, time-varying conditions. In this work, an SAR technique is proposed that explicitly considers the actual shading pattern on the PV array. The proposed approach accounts for shading caused by nearby fixed obstructions that varies throughout the day as well as across different seasons. The performance of the proposed technique was evaluated by comparing it with existing methods considering a PV array with a square matrix, and a small-scale laboratory prototype of non-square matrix was developed to demonstrate its practical applicability in real-world scenarios. It has been observed that the method consistently delivers an optimal power output for both software simulation and practical experiment compared to other available techniques.