Effect and Behaviour of Photovoltaic Array Power under Intermittency

Photovoltaic (PV) arrays are a critical component in the global transition towards renewable energy, but they face significant challenges due to intermittency, which refers to fluctuations in solar irradiance caused by environmental factors such as cloud cover, shading, and atmospheric conditions. MATLAB/Simulink environment was used to model and simulate the PV array under different intermittency scenarios. This study investigates the effect of intermittency on the performance of a PV array with a maximum power output of 3980 watts. The study analyses the impact of varying irradiance levels on the output power, voltage, and the emergence of multiple maximum power points (MPPs). The results show that under stable irradiance conditions, the PV array produces a single MPP, with optimal power and voltage outputs. However, when intermittency is introduced, multiple MPPs and voltage peaks appear, complicating the performance of conventional Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) systems. Various scenarios, including partial shading on specific modules, are examined to understand the degree to which intermittency affects energy output. The findings emphasize the need for enhanced PV array management techniques to maximize energy yield and system reliability in real-world applications where solar intermittency is prevalent