A Review of Model Predictive Control for Grid-Connected PV Applications

This paper presents the latest advancements in model predictive control (MPC) for grid-connected power inverters in renewable energy applications. It focuses on grid-connected PV systems employing MPC techniques. Two main categories of MPC are introduced: continuous control MPC (CC MPC) and predetermined control MPC (PC MPC). In CC MPC, a modulator is required to generate the control signal, whereas in PC MPC, the MPC controller directly performs the control process and generates the control pulses. Consequently, PC MPC is preferred for most power converter applications due to its lower computational complexity and simpler implementation. However, ensuring a fixed switching frequency remains a significant challenge when using this control strategy for power electronic converters. Moreover, the computation requirements of MPC strategies are challenging, due to the large number of online calculations. Even with the significant improvements in DSPs, computation complexity is still a continuing issue, especially for applications requiring a high frequency. This paper also examines the design considerations for both types of MPC in PV applications. Lastly, it reviews recent developments in grid-connected inverters utilizing MPC strategies, with a focus on system stability, converter topology, and control objectives.