Performance optimization of photovoltaic system under real climatic conditions using a novel MPPT approach

In order to mitigate the impact of temperature and irradiation variations on photovoltaic (PV) panels, it is crucial to employ the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) technique. This paper introduces a novel MPPT approach that provides a reference current, denoted as Iref, to extract the maximum power from the PV array. The difference between the input current Ipv, and Iref is then fed into a PID controller, which adjusts the duty cycle accordingly to control the Quadratic Boost Converter (QBC). The proposed MPPT approach is based on the analysis of measurement data obtained from PV panels. From this, a linear mathematical function between Iref and solar irradiation is achieved. To assess the performance of this approach, a comparative study is being carried out not only with conventional MPPT techniques such as P&O and INC-COND but also with modern techniques such as ANN, PSO, FLC, and improved P&O (IMP-P&O). The simulation results clearly demonstrate enhanced tracking performance under various test conditions, including the Step & Ropp test, as well as real profiles for both sunny and cloudy days. Certainly, the novel approach shows its ability to outperform both conventional and modern methods with a faster convergence speed (less than 2 milliseconds), the lowest steady-state oscillations (less than 0.25 Watts), and the highest tracking efficiency (greater than 99.79%).