Photovoltaic Electrical Energy Research Articles

Impact of Climate Change on the Performance of Household-Scale Photovoltaic Systems

The objective of this article was to investigate the impacts of climate change on photovoltaic systems among renewable energies by the end of the 21st century. One hypothesis posited that due to decreased cloud cover as a result of changing climate, the geographical region under examination would receive more solar irradiation—usable by photovoltaic panels—which would in turn increase the annual electrical energy production of these systems. Another hypothesis suggested that the average temperature increase, associated with changing climate conditions, would detrimentally affect the efficiency of electricity production in photovoltaic systems. The study was based on the simulation of a household-scale photovoltaic model. This simulation calculated the system's performance on an hourly basis depending on inputs and summed these to produce an annual value. Input values were derived from climate scenario databases. These variables included global horizontal irradiance, direct horizontal irradiance, temperature, and wind speed. The output was the aforementioned quantity of annual electrical energy production. An analysis occurred between the annual average global horizontal irradiance and the annual average air temperature in relation to the quantities of annual electrical energy production. Pearson and partial correlation examinations among the variables demonstrated that unfavorable scenarios resulted in reduced efficiency of photovoltaic electrical energy production, primarily due to rising temperatures. Among other contributions, this article can support research into the active cooling of photovoltaic systems and the examination of their viability to mitigate efficiency losses caused by current and future temperature increases. Doi: 10.28991/HIJ-2024-05-01-01 Full Text: PDF

Morphological control of electrodeposited iron for fluctuating photovoltaic electrical energy

With the Paris Agreement, the installed capacity of green power, such as photovoltaic (PV) and wind power, is growing rapidly at a rate of more than 10 % per year. The practical application of these green electrical energies is limited by the relative lag in the scale of energy storage systems. In response to the pressure on energy storage systems, we explored the feasibility of supplying DC power directly from a PV plant to an industrial electrolyzer by comparing the electrodeposition behavior of Fe2+ in a sulfuric acid system from stabilized DC and fluctuating PV power sources. We found that the factor that damages the stable operation of an iron electrodeposition system the most is the presence of hydrogen evolution reactions, where the generation of hydrogen bubbles reduces the current efficiency of the electrodeposition system and, in severe cases, destroys the surface morphology of the deposited products, causing devastating damage to the system. On this basis, we designed a simple scheme that uses heterogeneous bubble nucleation instead of homogeneous bubble nucleation for rapid bubble expulsion from the cathode surface. Benefiting from the rapid transfer of bubbles, the current efficiency of the electrodeposited iron system increases by 1.25%–10 % at different current densities, and the maximum roughness decreases by 129–2,396 nm, which considerably improves the stability of the electrodeposited iron system for PV power. This work provides useful experimental support for the transformation of the traditional steel smelting industry, which is characterized by high carbon emission and energy consumption, into an environmentally friendly industry.

Machine learning and analytical model hybridization to assess the impact of climate change on solar PV energy production

The United Nations' (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda has triggered numerous countries to harness solar energy from solar photovoltaic (PV) modules to increase the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. However, geographical and climatic factors have a significant impact on the electrical performance of solar PV modules. In addition, since solar PV energy production models are the only physics-based approach to transferring ground-measured PV energy production to other locations, the authors developed 294 physical models from six different PV power technologies and validated them for the model's adaptability. To facilitate the possible determination of PV electric energy generation in the unique geographical and climatic environment of the experiment site, these models were built using machine learning, Gumbel's probabilistic approach (GPM), and hybridization of the two. The major challenges in this study are in developing the hybridized machine learning with the Gumbel probabilistic functional model, which resides in the mathematical transformation process, which required a great deal of repeated mathematical science knowledge to arrive at the final transformed and efficient model for predicting the potential of solar PV output. With a thorough coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.9998% and a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.0063 kwh, the hybrid model with only the measurable solar radiation parameter is the closest to the measured PV energy production of all technologies. The best hybridized model was used to explore the potential impacts of climate change on the different solar PV technologies. This was achieved by using energy parameters from the Australian Community Climate and Global System Simulation (ACCESS-CM2) in Phase 6. On an annual basis, the effects of climate change on various PV technologies have had a small adverse impact (less than 1%) on these renewable energy technologies. It was also found that, compared to other technologies, CIGS thin film technology produced the least negative effects on climate change, with 10.94%–36.75% in the best-case, 35.71%–36.36% in the moderate-case, and 33.33–40.00% in the worst-case scenario for shared socioeconomic pathways (SSP126, SSP245, and SSP585) emissions. This suggests the intrinsic properties of Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIGS) thin film modules are more effective at withstanding high temperatures as they contribute 60.00–89.66% of their intrinsic module properties to PV energy production compared to other technologies. However, taking into account the time, resource availability, cost-effectiveness, commercialization, and consumption of various PV technologies studied in this era of global sustainability, poly-crystalline (p-Si) technology is highly recommended for harvesting solar PV energy products in Alice Springs, Australia.

Community empowerment through biofloc catfish fishery with photovoltaic electrical energy in Sutojayan Village, Malang

The Community Partnership Program (PKM) for tarpaulin fish pond fisheries using photovoltaic electrical energy sources was carried out in Sutojayan Village, Pakisaji District, Malang Regency. The purpose of the community service is to deal with problems that occur in Sutojayan Village related to food security through the application of appropriate technology. The methods of the activities are: 1) focus group discussions and technology dissemination, 2) construction of biofloc catfish tarpaulin ponds and PLTS, and 3) skills and management training of biofloc catfish and PLTS. The result of this program is an increase in the skills of catfish farming groups in applying the biofloc system, business bookkeeping and processing harvests. In addition, there has also been an increase in catfish yields. Furthermore, this program as established 3 (three) biofloc catfish tarpaulin ponds, a set of PLTS, and a management group.

Multivariant Analysis of Photovoltaic Performance with Consideration of Self-Consumption

The presented work contains the comparison of a different photovoltaic system approach, in terms of monthly energy production profiles, with detailed user needs profiles. Two types of investors were taken into account—a company where the yearly energy consumption exceeded 50 MWh and a standard household where the yearly energy consumption was around 6 MWh. Moreover, two different scenarios were considered; the first one was focused on the maximization of the energy production during a year by choosing optimal azimuth and tilt angles, whereas the second PV system was based on the East–West azimuth angles, which usually enables one to have better energy self-consumption, which leads to sustainable energy usage. Energy production profiles, along with users’ energy needs profiles, were analyzed in terms of sustainability, investment payback time, and energy loss in the face of the new Polish Renewable Energy Law. Recent changes in the Renewable Energy Law in Poland, which came into force on the 1 April 2022, have changed the way many investors are thinking about investing in photovoltaic systems. The main difference is how the Energy Distributor is obliged to trade the photovoltaic electrical energy injected into the grid by Prosumers. The so-called “net metering”, which is kind of a barter deal, was changed to “net billing”—selling energy at a wholesale price. Net billing is believed to be less profitable than net metering due to a significant price difference between the bought and sold energy.

Experimental Investigation and Comparison of the Net Energy Yield Using Control-Based Solar Tracking Systems

As the world trend is going towards renewable energy, solar photovoltaic (PV) energy shines the most due to the low generation cost especially by using the latest PV cell technologies and materials, although the conventional silicon cell has an efficiency in the range of 15-16%. A PV tracking system (PVTS) could be a considerable method to increase electrical PV efficiency. In this study, the performance enhancement of the daily output power and energy has been experimentally investigated using single- and dual-axis tracking mechanisms for flat-plate conventional PV panels under the insolation conditions of the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia (SA). In the current study, the active PVTS has been designed and implemented with PID controllers and controlled in real-time with an embedded system. The fixed-tilt (FTPV), single-axis solar tracking system (SAST), and dual-axis solar tracking system (DAST) were tested simultaneously under clear-sky conditions. The PV electrical energy balance has revealed that the energy consumed by the electrical controllers of the SAST and DAST is 3.4% and 3.9%, respectively. In addition, the energy losses due to the actuators of the SAST and DAST are 7.8% and 13.0%, respectively, where they contributed mainly to the energy losses. However, the PV energy production by the DAST was high enough to compensate for the higher actuating mechanism losing rate compared to the SAST and performed incremental net energy output of around 8.64%. On other hand, the DAST and SAST were more efficient than the FTPV recording higher net energy increase by 28.98% and 18.73%, respectively.

Parametric Urban-Scale Analysis of Space Cooling Energy Needs and Potential Photovoltaic Integration in Residential Districts in South-West Europe

The energy needs for space cooling are becoming a significant share of the energy balance of different Member States of the European Union, in particular the Mediterranean countries. This trend has been observed and monitored by the European Union, which has started a number of initiatives to promote the reduction in the energy demand for space cooling and have it satisfied by renewable energy sources, such as photovoltaic electrical energy. Nevertheless, even if the potential of those solutions has been widely investigated at the single-building level, this scale of analysis seems not fully adequate to support the definition of the energy policies addressed towards the renovation of the current cities into smart ones, with a large share of their energy demand satisfied with renewable energy. In this framework, this research aims to investigate the topic of building energy performance for space cooling services by adopting an urban-scale approach. In detail, a parametric simulation plan was run with CitySim in order to assess the impact of different quantities, i.e., climate conditions, districts’ and buildings’ geometry features, and the thermal quality of the building envelope, on the overall cooling energy need for districts and the specific building energy performance. Furthermore, the advantages of the integration of photovoltaic systems to supply power to the cooling system were analyzed, identifying the district configurations with the highest potential. For instance, in Athens, the share of space cooling demand satisfied by PV in high-rise nZEB configurations ranges between 64% (Building Density = 0.25) and 87% (Building Density = 1), while in the low-rise nZEB configurations it ranges between 81% (Building Density = 0.25) and 75% (Building Density = 1).

Dirt on photovoltaic modules and efficient energy generation in the Brazilian semiarid

ABSTRACT A photovoltaic electrical energy system is one of the least aggressive ways to affect the environment. Factors such as dirt influence the efficiency of these systems and can have a considerable impact in low rainfall regions, such as the Brazilian semiarid. In this respect, the aim of the present study was to analyze the effect of dirt on the efficiency of electricity generation in photovoltaic modules installed in the Brazilian semiarid. To that end, the output power of a periodically cleaned module was compared with a naturally dirty module; in addition, the percentage output power, dirt deposition density and relationship between these variables were estimated. The study was carried out at the University of Pernambuco, in the city of Petrolina, PE, Brazil, during dry and rainy periods. Data were collected via a data acquisition system and dirt using glass slides. The results indicate that more than 15 days without rain significantly reduces the efficiency of photovoltaic modules installed in semiarid areas, reaching an 18.72% decrease in output power after 70 days.

Neighbouring shading effect on photovoltaic panel system: Its implication to green building certification scheme

Nowadays, photovoltaic (PV) system is one of the commonly adopted renewable energy systems. Many countries promote the application of PV system in buildings through green building certification schemes. On a building rooftop, there are various building facilities which may cast shadow on PV panels, resulting in reduction in electricity generation. Currently, there is rare attention to the neighbouring shading effect (NSE) on the performance of rooftop PV system. This study investigates the performance of PV system under NSE, using weather data of seven cities located at different geographical latitudes. These seven cities are Singapore (1.37° N), Hong Kong (22.3° N), Shanghai (31.17° N), Beijing (39.8° N), Harbin (45.72° N), Washington, USA (38.98° N) and London, UK (51.15° N). By comparing the building cases with and without considering NSE, the results unveil a substantial percentage difference in PV electricity generation and energy payback time (EPBT) ranging from −12.62% to −28.34% and −14.43% to −39.55%, respectively. Moreover, it reveals the dependence of percentage difference in PV electricity generation and EPBT on the latitude of a city. For the current green building certification schemes, mandatory requirement to take NSE into account for assessing the performance of rooftop PV system is recommended.

Experimental and simulation study on bifacial photovoltaic modules integration with buildings

Compared with monofacial photovoltaic, bifacial photovoltaic modules can ab-sorb the irradiance on both sides, thereby obtaining more electricity revenue, which can meet more demands. In order to further improve the electrical efficiency of bifacial photovoltaic, this paper proposes a bifacial photovoltaic module with adjustable inclination for simulation and experimental research, which can be well combined with architecture. Under the conditions of different inclination, orientations and heights, the output performance of the bifacial photovoltaic module is analyzed. Under the best inclination, the annual electrical energy of bifacial photovoltaic is about 9.4% higher than that of monofacial photovoltaic. When the spacing between the bifacial photovoltaic and the wall is 1-1.5 times the size of the photovoltaic, the electrical energy will increase the most. Considering the influence of wall color on bifacial photovoltaic performance, the photovoltaic electrical energy under the white wall can reach up to 35% higher than that with respect to the concrete color (dark grey).

Integrated analysis of photovoltaic system externalities in Brazil: public health expenditures, energy quality, architectural aspects and real estate value

Photovoltaic solar energy systems is a renewable source that has raised great worldwide interest in recent decades. However, in Brazil still, the cost of photovoltaic (PV) systems is still high, and the current public policies are incipient. From 2014 to 2019, an average growth of 203% per year was observed in the installed PV power systems in Brazil. Such performance can also be justified by a greater understanding of externalities, i.e., external positive and negative impacts inherent to the generation of electric energy. The objective is to understand the economic effects of photovoltaic externalities from different perspectives. The following externalities were studied: air pollution; energy quality; construction element; thermal load and real estate valuation, and all of them were analyzed for the Brazilian scenario. The results indicated that the externality of air pollution, which has impacts on health, estimated from the society perspective, could be worth, at least, 4.12% of the price of the energy generated by PV systems. The losses avoided and the voltage profile, energy quality parameters, may account to 12.61% of the electricity price for utilities, and from the consumer perspective, the externality real estate value may be around 79.44% of the price of the electricity generated by photovoltaic systems. The results of this study indicate that the externalities were, for the most part, positive for PV electric energy generating systems. Thus, considering externalities, it is intended to further understand their relationship with the expansion of the distributed generation of electric energy with PV systems in Brazil.

Efficient spatial allocation of solar photovoltaic electric energy generation in different regions of Brazil: a portfolio approach

ABSTRACT Several countries face the challenge of reducing the intermittency of solar photovoltaic generation due to changes in climatic conditions. Considering that Brazil has continental-scale dimensions and diverse geography, an alternative that allows the smoothing of the intermittency of solar photovoltaic generation is needed. The novelty of this study is the proposal to efficiently allocate the production of photovoltaic solar energy between the interconnected regions of the country, forming an optimal portfolio with the highest productivity and the least intermittency. Thus, the regional allocation process for solar generation is formulated through an optimization problem with two objective functions: to increase the country’s productivity and simultaneously control the variability of the supply of solar energy. This study concludes that the current models of planning for the expansion of Brazil do not consider the variability of solar irradiation incident in the five regions of Brazil.

A Review of Control Techniques in Photovoltaic Systems

Complex control structures are required for the operation of photovoltaic electrical energy systems. In this paper, a general review of the controllers used for photovoltaic systems is presented. This review is based on the most recent papers presented in the literature. The control architectures considered are complex hybrid systems that combine classical and modern techniques, such as artificial intelligence and statistical models. The main contribution of this paper is the synthesis of a generalized control structure and the identification of the latest trends. The main findings are summarized in the development of increasingly robust controllers for operation with improved efficiency, power quality, stability, safety, and economics.

A framework for the study of householders’ engagement with low-carbon energy demand practices in dwellings with grid-connected photovoltaic energy systems

Introduction: This paper introduces a framework to assess householders’ interaction with grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) systems in domestic buildings, in an attempt to research the question To what extent the engagement of occupants in energy demand management practices is relevant for the operational CO 2 emissions reductions in dwellings with on-grid PV systems? The focus is placed on identifying the engagement with low-carbon operation practices and its relevance for final CO2 emissions from electricity consumption. Specifically, PV electricity Self-consumption and energy conservation practices are studied. To this extent, the research builds on i) the energy services approach and ii) the social practices approach to domestic energy demand. The context of owner-occupied houses which have been retrofitted with PV installations in South Wales, UK is taken as an example. Methods: After a brief conceptual review on domestic energy demand, a mixed-methods framework for the study of householders’ engagement with low-carbon energy demand practices is presented, comprising three key aspects: a) the conditions for the practices to occur, b) frequency with which householders enact the practices, and c) the estimation of final operational CO2 emissions performance. Results: As part of ongoing research work, a framework to study households’ engagement with low-carbon energy demand practices in buildings with grid-connected PV technology is proposed; focusing on the obtention of a socio-technical lecture to complement other sources of in-use assessment data. Conclusions: Besides single case-studies, the framework has potential applications in recognising and grouping households’ engagement profiles. In this way, it is suggested that the framework might facilitate the analysis when extensive assessments are needed; such as in public policy evaluation or demand response studies. Grant Support: This work is funded by CONICYT PFCHA/DOCTORADO BECAS CHILE/2018 - 72180375.

Thermal Analysis of a New Sliding Smart Window Integrated with Vacuum Insulation, Photovoltaic, and Phase Change Material

A zero-energy building (ZEB) requires an innovative integration of technologies, in which windows play a paramount role in energy reduction, storage, and generation. This study contributes to four innovative designs of sliding smart windows. It integrates air-gap (AG), phase change material (PCM), photovoltaic (PV), and vacuum glazing (VG) technologies. These smart sliding windows are proposed to generate electricity along with achieving efficient thermal insulations and heat storage simultaneously. A two-dimensional multiphysics thermal model that couples the PCM melting and solidification model, PV model, natural convection in the cavity, and the surface-to-surface radiation model in the vacuum gap are developed for the first time. The model is validated with data in the literature. The transient simulations were carried out to investigate the thermo-electrical performance of a window with an area of 1 m by 1 m for the meteorological conditions of Kuwait city on the 10th of June 2018, where the window was oriented to south direction. The results showed that the total solar heat energy gain per unit window area is 2.6 kWh, 0.02 kWh, 0.22 kWh, 1.48 kWh, and 0.2 kWh for the double AG, AG + PV + PCM + VG, PV + PCM + VG, AG + PV + PCM, and the ventilated AG + PV + PCM + VG, respectively. The results elucidate the advantages of the integration of VG in this integrated sliding smart window. The daily generated PV electrical energy in these systems is around 1.3 kWh, 1.43 kWh, and 1.38 kWh for the base case with double AG, PV + PCM + VG, and the ventilated AG + PV + PCM + VG respectively per unit window area.

Optimal sizing design and operation of electrical and thermal energy storage systems in smart buildings

Photovoltaic (PV) systems in residential buildings require energy storage to enhance their productivity; however, in present technology, battery storage systems (BSSs) are not the most cost-effective solutions. Comparatively, thermal storage systems (TSSs) can provide opportunities to enhance PV self-consumption while reducing life cycle costs. This paper proposes a new framework for optimal sizing design and real-time operation of energy storage systems in a residential building equipped with a PV system, heat pump (HP), thermal and electrical energy storage systems. For simultaneous optimal sizing of BSS and TSS, a particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm is applied to minimize daily electricity and life cycle costs of the smart building. A model predictive controller is then developed to manage energy flow of storage systems to minimize electricity costs for end-users. The main objective of the controller is to optimally control HP operation and battery charge/discharge actions based on a demand response program. The controller regulates the flow of water in the storage tank to meet designated thermal energy requirements by controlling HP operation. Furthermore, the power flow of battery is controlled to supply all loads during peak-load hours to minimize electricity costs. The results of this paper demonstrate to rooftop PV system owners that investment in combined TSS and BSS can be more profitable as this system can minimize life cycle costs. The proposed methods for optimal sizing and operation of electrical and thermal storage system can reduce the annual electricity cost by more than 80% with over 42% reduction in the life cycle cost. Simulation and experimental results are presented to validate the effectiveness of the proposed framework and controller.

A Boost CLLC Converter Controlled by PWM and PFM Hybrid Modulation for Photovoltaic Power Generation

When an input terminal is connected to a solar panel with a low voltage level and large power range fluctuation, a Boost type CLLC converter controlled by fixed frequency pulse width modulation (PWM) reduces the utilization of PV electric energy, and the synchronous drive of the secondary side and primary side ensures that the converter operates with low efficiency when the duty cycle is shifted by 0.5. To maximize the utilization of photovoltaic (PV) energy in a PV power generation system and improve the conversion efficiency, this paper studies a Boost CLLC converter with high gain and soft switching controlled by PWM-pulse frequency modulation (PFM) hybrid modulation for PV power generation. By controlling the duty cycle and switching frequency of the primary MOSFETs, the converter can stabilize the output voltage while tracking the PV maximum power point. Under such a hybrid control, the resonant gain of the converter is greater than 1, the voltage gain is large, one of the MOSFETs at the primary side is in a zero-voltage-switching-open (ZVS-ON) state, two diodes are used to realize zero-current-switching (ZCS) soft switching on the secondary side, and the efficiency of the converter is high. In addition, this paper studies the phenomenon of backflow power in the resonant circuit and the influence of a change in the switching frequency on the magnitude of the backflow power. Finally, a 500W experimental prototype was constructed to verify the accuracy of the theoretical analysis and the feasibility of the control method.

Effect of adjacent shading on the energy and environmental performance of photovoltaic glazing system in building application

Photovoltaic (PV) system is a commonly adopted renewable energy system in building application. In most of the assessments on PV system, there is no consideration on adjacent shading effect cast by surrounding buildings which may lead to over-estimation of PV energy generation and inaccurate calculation of energy payback time (EPBT). This paper investigates the effect of adjacent shading on energy generation and EPBT of PV system. A survey had been conducted to identify and select 25 existing commercial buildings with different degrees of adjacent shading (expressed in terms of sky view factors (SVF), ranging from 0.16 to 0.95) and orientations. Through computer simulations using EnergyPlus, it reveals the significance of adjacent shading effect on the PV energy generation as well as EPBT of building-integrated PV glazing system for the 25 selected buildings, in terms of two ratios, namely PV electricity energy ratio (0.18–0.84) and energy payback time ratio (1.17–5.74). Moreover, a correlation between SVF and PV electricity energy ratio was established (PVEE Ratio = 0.3867 SVF2 + 0.4176 SVF + 0.0975) with which building professionals can evaluate the PV energy generated and EPBT of a building-integrated PV glazing system in building application, under adjacent shading effect.

Performances and economic analysis of small photovoltaic–electricity energy storage system for residential applications

Currently, the need to address the issues arising from the uncontrolled growth of photovoltaic installations, such as intermittence and unpredictability of the generation that cause loss of balance in the grid, becomes unavoidable. Promising solutions for minimizing grid injection are the combination of photovoltaic generation with electricity energy storage and load management, the latter commonly known as Demand Side Management. These strategies together with incentives for self-consumption or energy independence from the network will allow facilitating the integration of the always-increasing generation of renewable energy. In Europe, the usage of residential energy grid-interactive energy storage systems for buffering of surplus photovoltaic generation is becoming a field of growing interest and market activity, as a consequence of the less attractive photovoltaic feed-in-tariffs in the near future and incentives to promote self-consumption. This study aims to evaluate the energy exchange with the grid and the rate of self-consumption of combined photovoltaic–electricity energy storage systems dedicated to residential and small commercial prosumers. More specifically, several combinations of sizes of photovoltaic plant, annual household consumptions and electricity energy storage capacity were evaluated. This analysis aims to identify which arrangement among photovoltaic power, electricity consumption and battery capacity allows reaching the highest ratio of self-sufficiency and consequently minimizing the energy exchanged with the grid. Moreover, the financial analysis of the photovoltaic–electricity energy storage system has been performed for verifying the economic viability of the photovoltaic–electricity energy storage systems under the Italian current market and economic circumstances.

Maximum power point tracking using Hill Climbing and ANFIS techniques for PV applications: A review and a novel hybrid approach

The development of Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) techniques is continuing in order to increase the generated energy from photovoltaic (PV) generators. A variety of MPPT techniques have been proposed and classified based on three main categories: offline, online and hybrid techniques. This paper presents a review of the most popular techniques for offline and online tracking of the Maximum Power Point (MPP), which are the Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) and Hill Climbing (HC) techniques, respectively. This is in addition to a review for all hybrid techniques reported in the literature demonstrating their main merits and shortcomings. Moreover, the present paper combines the ANFIS and HC as a hybrid technique for the first time. The proposed technique involves the features of the ANFIS and HC techniques and mitigates their shortcomings in order to increase the generated PV electrical energy. The proposed technique is a combination of two stages to assess the duty ratio (control signal) being applied to a boost converter for MPP tracking. The first stage includes a set point calculation loop to estimate the duty ratio. The second stage involves a fine tuning loop to determine the exact duty ratio corresponding to the MPP. This achieves maximum power transfer to the load even under nonuniform climatic conditions using a relatively simple control system. The proposed technique has been simulated in MATLAB/SIMULINK environment and compared with some other MPPT techniques (the Constant Voltage (CV), ANFIS, HC, Incremental Conductance (IncCond) techniques) for steady state and rapidly changing climatic conditions (Ropp and sine radiation tests) as well as load variations. The results reveal that the proposed hybrid MPPT technique outperforms other MPPT techniques in term of performances indicators, which include the tracking speed, tracking accuracy and energy gain factor.