Efficiency assessment of MIC PV plants using Wireless Sensor Networks

The paper describes a simulation framework able to accomplish a simulation of a PV plants including a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN). The developed framework is entirely implemented in a Matlab/Simulink environment, and can be used to accomplish in-depth performance evaluation of two very different systems interacting between them, the power generator and the wireless data transfer network. As an example, the developed framework is exploited to investigate the effects of possible data losses, or delays, on the efficiency of a PV generator based on the Module Integrated Converter concept and equipped with a centralized MPPT system exploiting a WSN to monitor PV modules electric variables and the distribution of solar irradiation and temperature over the plant area.