Characteristics and performance of a PV-system consisting of 20 AC-modules

AC-modules are PV-panels with an inverter on the rear of the module. These modules supply AC-power. PV-systems consisting of AC-modules have several advantages compared with conventional PV-systems. One of the advantages is the possibility to realise small grid connected PV-systems, because each AC-module is an independent unit. Other important advantages are ease of engineering and reduced energy losses caused by mismatch and partial shading. On the roof of the Ecofys building in Utrecht (Netherlands), a pilot system consisting of 20 polycrystalline AC-modules was realized. In this paper the first encouraging results of the monitoring of this pilot system are presented: a system efficiency of over 11% and a performance ratio of over 0.8.