Dappled shadows on rooftop solar panels can slash power output by 30%, while high-rise buildings casting shade on balcony solar installations may cut energy gains by nearly half—partial shading is a hidden “electricity bill killer” for distributed PV systems. How can this challenge be solved? Researchers at Pondicherry University in India have drawn inspiration from the globally popular number puzzle Sudoku, developing an innovative PV array configuration called the “Four-Pyramid Sudoku (FPS)” layout.
Traditional series or parallel connections of PV modules are highly susceptible to a “weakest link effect” under partial shading, causing a dramatic power drop. The breakthrough of FPS lies in its disruptive layout: solar panels are arranged in a 9×9 matrix, strictly following the logical essence of Sudoku—ensuring current balance across each row and column. This is not just a simple physical arrangement but a sophisticated static reconfiguration strategy. When shading reduces the current output of certain panels, the FPS layout automatically and evenly distributes the loss across the entire array, effectively preventing localized power blockage from dragging down overall performance.
The revolutionary advantage of FPS is its “static” nature. Unlike traditional reconfiguration techniques (such as TCT, SDK, CMP, or CDK), which rely on expensive switch matrices and real-time algorithms, FPS requires no additional hardware or complex dynamic control systems. This not only significantly reduces costs but also improves reliability and ease of deployment.
The research team conducted rigorous comparative simulations in MATLAB under various shading scenarios. Results showed that under typical 30% partial shading conditions, the FPS configuration delivered 18%-27% higher peak power output than conventional setups. This efficiency boost translates directly into financial gains—the team estimates that an FPS-equipped PV system could save up to ₹850,267 (~$9,182) annually, a crucial factor in lowering the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) and improving the return on investment for distributed solar projects.
