SWITCHED CAPACITOR BASED DC OPTIMIZER FOR PV MODULE LEVEL ENERGY HARVESTING

A photovoltaic (PV) system may include a plurality of PV modules connected in series, each PV module of the plurality of PV modules being configured to harvest solar energy, and output the harvested solar energy as direct current (DC); at least one inverter connected to the plurality of PV modules, the at least one inverter configured to, receive the DC output by the plurality of PV modules, and convert the DC output into alternating current (AC); each PV module of the plurality of PV modules includes at least one capacitor configured to store the harvested solar energy; and processing circuitry configured to, monitor a charging voltage of the at least one capacitor, and control the DC output of the PV module based on the monitored charging voltage of the at least one capacitor.