Patent ID: 8330299

Claim:
A power generation system comprising: a plurality of power generation units each configured to output DC power, wherein the power generation units comprise photovoltaic units; a plurality of DC to DC partial power converters each coupled to a respective power generation unit and each comprising an input section and an output section, wherein the output section is coupled in series with the respective power generation unit, wherein each DC to DC partial power converter is configured to process a first portion of the DC power output of the respective power generation unit and to provide an unprocessed second portion of the DC power output of the respective power generation unit to the output section; at least one combiner for combining the DC power output from the output sections of the DC to DC partial power converters and providing the combined DC power to a main system DC link; and at least one DC to AC inverter coupled to the main system DC link and configured to control a voltage level of the power output from the DC to DC partial power converters on the main system DC link.