<![CDATA[Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are increasingly adopted as renewable energy sources, but their performance is often compromised by partial shading, which reduces efficiency and output. The choice of inverter topology string inverters versus micro-inverters plays a critical role in mitigating shading losses and improving overall system performance. This study aims to experimentally evaluate the performance of micro-inverters compared to string inverters under varying partial shading conditions, focusing on electrical efficiency and economic feasibility. The experiment was conducted in Palembang using four 100 Wp polycrystalline PV panels installed at a 15° tilt and north-facing azimuth. AC power output was measured under four shading levels (0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%) using irradiance meters and wattmeters over 10-hour daily measurement periods. Performance ratio, fill factor, and efficiency were calculated, and Break-Even Point (BEP) analysis was performed to assess economic viability. Micro-inverters achieved 22.98% efficiency compared to 15.96% for string inverters in unshaded conditions. Both systems performed similarly (14.57% vs. 14.40%) at 5% shading. However, at 10% and 15% shading, micro-inverters significantly outperformed string inverters, with efficiencies of 10.40% and 9.87% compared to 4.38% and 1.35%, respectively. BEP analysis revealed that while string inverters reached payback faster under minimal shading, micro-inverters were more economically advantageous when shading exceeded 10%, with string inverter BEP extending to 25.9 years under 15% shading. These results demonstrate that micro-inverters provide greater resilience to partial shading and can offer improved technical and economic performance under shaded operating conditions.]]>
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