A comprehensive assessment of MPPT algorithms to optimal power extraction of a PV panel

Abstract

The electrical energy produced by photovoltaic (PV) process is inexhaustible, developable everywhere and clean. Whatever the conditions, it is desirable to extract the biggest amount of power from the solar panel. This is achieved with the use of a Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) algorithm. Fluctuations in weather conditions (irradiation and temperature) strongly degrade the performance of the photovoltaic module's energy conversion and therefore all the power cannot be transferred to the load. The objective is to study and compare different approaches of MPPT algorithms to evaluate the power extracted under the standard test conditions and varying weather conditions. Results of the performance with all these algorithms are compared under different operating conditions. The results show that the Fuzzy Logic Controller (FLC) is the fastest in terms of stabilization and is followed respectively by Fractional Short-Circuit Current (FSCC), Fractional Open-Circuit Voltage (FOCV), Perturb and Observe (P&O), Incremental Conductance (INC) and Hill Climbing (HC) algorithms. The FLC also gives the best results in extracting, followed by P&O INC, HC, FSCC and FOCV algorithms.