Have any body compared the advantages/disadvantages of String inverters vs. Central inverters for a MW sized PV plant?

The basic advantage of String Inverters is their redundancy. Also it saves lot of copper in DC cabling.

For a MW size plant with many string inverters the shutting down of one string inverter will not reflect much power loss as compared to a plant connected to a central inverter and the central inverter shuts down if any problem occurs in the inverter.

Further there are some restrictions that one can not use the String inverers with Amorphous modules..............

Impact of shading using string inverter is Lower
Can Monitor individual strings (Voltage, Current, Power); coz SSM monitoring system is used in it
MPPT for each string hence better power gneration thourghout the day..
Module mismatching effect is minimized
Low DC cable losses as compared to central.

...absolutely correct....I agree with all the points mentioned by Sameer.....would you please elaborate on lower shading losses in the string inveters please.

In a series string of solar cells, the shading of any one cell introduces a high impedance and dramatically cuts the output of the whole string.

This means that one large leaf can cut the output of a four string solar panel by a quarter, and then that panel will drag down the output of all panels connected in series with it.
Theoratcialy the ideal way to minimise this will be use of MPPT for each module hence the concpet of micro inverteres for modules...
Other wise the use of MPPT for each string would considerably reduce the shading losses....& so the string inverter would.....

Good......that means more number of MPPTs and hence better output !

Hope now Krishnan would have got his answer by now!

Dear All,
Still I couldn't get advantages in quantitative terms.If that is published,developers can make a concrete decision. I am seeig all 5 MW/10W plants are using central inverters

I think Sameer can throw more light on this as Reliance has already done a 5 MW solar farm in Rajasthan using string inverters long back.