Maximum photovoltaic array power point tracking algorithm based on modified particle swarm optimization under non-uniform irradiance

Abstract

Under fast-changing non-uniform solar irradiance level the multiple local maximum power points are observed but only one global maximum power point exists which lead to a dynamic optimization problem. This paper presents a maximum photovoltaic array power point tracking algorithm based on the modified particle swarm optimization. The modification of particle swarm optimization employs re-randomization and the particles around a maximum power point initialization. The simulation results show that the proposed algorithm provides stability and fast maximum power point tracking of a photovoltaic array, as compared to a classical Perturb and Observe or particle swarm optimization algorithms under fast-changing non-uniform solar irradiance level.