Super Twisting Sliding Mode Control for the Maximum Power Point Tracking in a Photovoltaic System under Partial Shading

Abstract

One of the most popular renewable energy sources is photovoltaic energy; however, its main drawback is the low conversion efficiency. Optimal system operation requires efficient tracking of the maximum power point representing the maximum energy that can be extracted from the photovoltaic system. One of the main problems is the presence of partial shadows. In this scenario, the system's power presents multiple peaks; a robust control technique is required to properly track the Global Maximum Power Point (GMPP). This paper proposes using a Sliding Mode Controller (SMC) for the GMPP tracking which is a robust strategy for coping with changing environmental conditions and partial shadows. Numerical simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposal.