A meta-heuristics search algorithm as a solution for energy transfer maximization in stand-alone photovoltaic systems

• Novel MPPT technique in stand-alone photovoltaic systems is proposed.
• Incremental conductance proportional integral controller and fuzzy control are analyzed.
• The initial starting point of the traditional tracking algorithms is enhanced.
• The developed controllers ensure maximum power transfer under variable irradiances.
• The developed controllers outperform the conventional PI and fuzzy agent systems.

This paper studies the problem of MPPT (maximum power point tracking) for photovoltaic systems. The paper offers new solution framework for the above mentioned popular problem in two senses. Firstly a novel MPPT technique is presented. The main idea behind it is to improve the computational efficiency of the traditional incremental conductance tracking algorithm. This is achieved by integration with the fractional open circuit voltage method leading to fast and accurate convergence to the MPP. Secondly, with the aid of certain class of meta-heuristics search algorithms – inspired from the real ant behavior – the MPPT problem is amenable to solution for two different and well known control schemes namely incremental conductance plus proportional integral controller and fuzzy control. A comparison with conventional approach reflects the superiority of the new framework even under fast changing climatic conditions.