AndSolar RSD+ Optimizer Hybrid Solution Test

𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭, 𝐍𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 — 𝐀 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞-𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐒𝐃 + 𝐎𝐏𝐓 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Partial shading from rooftop structures, equipment, trees, and other obstacles can reduce PV system output. Optimizers can help mitigate mismatch losses caused by shading—but does every module really need one?
To find out, AndSolar put four different configurations to the test on a real rooftop.

 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥-𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭

 Group A: RSD, No Shading
 Group B: RSD, With Shading
 Group C: RSD + Optimizer, With Shading
 Group D: Optimizer, With Shading


 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐬, 𝐁𝐢𝐠 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭
Even a small shaded area can cause significant power losses.
In our test, shading less than 𝟏% of the string’s total active area reduced Group B’s energy output from 𝟏𝟎𝟎% to 𝟕𝟒.𝟖%. With Optimizers, Group D recovered the output to 𝟗𝟐.𝟓%, showing how Optimizers can effectively reduce shading-related mismatch losses.
 𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐈𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬
Instead of installing an Optimizer on every module, Group C used Optimizers only on the 3 shaded modules, while the remaining modules used RSDs.
It achieved 91.2% energy output, just 1.3 percentage points below the full-Optimizer setup at 92.5%—with only 3 Optimizers instead of 19.
 𝐍𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐋𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭
The result shows that Optimizers don't need to be installed on every module. By optimizing only where shading has the greatest impact, RSD + Optimizer offers a more flexible and cost-effective approach for partially shaded PV systems.

Cases

AndSolar RSD+ Optimizer Hybrid Solution Test

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