A simulation method for Maximum Power Point Tracking against stepped I–V characteristics

A current-voltage (I-V) characteristic changes in various configuration and often includes multiple peaks affected by shadows. A stepped I-V characteristic makes it difficult for maximum power point tracking (MPPT) to find the real maximum power point (MPP). This paper proposes MATLAB-based simulation method to predict and evaluate the MPPT performance. Considering the influence of the insolation variation and shadow, these I-V characteristics are made every 0.01 [s] based on the measured insolation data every 1 [s] with linear interpolation. In the case when PV modules are affected by insolation variation and shadow, conventional three MPPT methods are simulated and compared.