Power and Frequency Fluctuations of MPPT Algorithms in Variable Irradiance Environments

Abstract

Solar cells use the natural sunlight for a variety of purposes including electrical power generation. In order to maximize the power obtained from a solar cell, it has to operate at what is known as the Maximum Power Point (MPP). Intelligent algorithms that can track MPP for a given cell are crucial for the success of a large scale deployment of solar panels. This paper investigates the performance of two well-known Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) algorithms. A variable irradiance environment has been considered in this work, where sunlight varies significantly during the day. Towards the end, frequency stability analysis is conducted to evaluate the relevant impact of MPPT algorithms on frequency stability of system.