Enhanced variable step sizes perturb and observe MPPT control to reduce energy loss in photovoltaic systems

Abstract

This study proposes a modified variable step-size perturb and observe (VSS-P&O) control to improve the efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) systems. Traditional VSS-P&O control often suffers from power losses due to rapid variations in solar irradiance, temperature, and resistive load. The proposed approach enhances the maximum power point tracking technique by incorporating a buck-boost converter to regulate the input and improve tracking accuracy. MATLAB simulations show that the new method significantly outperforms conventional methods, achieving a relative improvement in performance and an 80% reduction in power ripples under varying conditions. Compared to traditional algorithms, the proposed approach reduces response time and undershoots by 30%, demonstrating superior reliability and performance. These findings highlight the effectiveness of the proposed method in addressing power loss issues and improving the overall performance of PV systems, making it a promising solution for future applications.