Artificial Bee Colony-Based GMPPT for Non-homogeneous Operating Conditions in a Bifacial CPVT System

Abstract

Photovoltaic (PV) modules directly convert the solar energy into electricity with electrical efficiency in 10–20%. The rest of the incident solar radiation reflects from front surface and converts into thermal energy which leads to an increase in the PV module temperature. Thus, PV module efficiency decreases. PV power production can be increased with utilize of thermal energy or cooling of PV module. Photovoltaic–thermal (PV/T) technologies provide both electricity and thermal energy. PV/T absorbs thermal energy from PV module which may lead to decrease the PV module temperature. Thus, its electrical efficiency is higher with respect to PV systems. However, PV/T collectors suffer for high capital costs. To improve their profitability, many concentrating PV (CPV) have been developed to increase the incident solar radiation on the PV surface, simultaneously reducing PV material for unit receiver area. Both electricity and thermal energy from the sun more effectively is used with this mechanism called concentrating photovoltaic–thermal (CPVT) technology. This chapter focuses on artificial bee colony (ABC)-based global maximum power point tracking (GMPPT) for PV string structures in a bifacial CPVT system. This power conditioning unit is applied to bifacial CPVT system for efficient utilization of solar energy under four different non-homogeneous solar radiation and module temperature operating conditions.