A New Maximum Power Point Tracking Algorithm for PV Modules under Partial Shading and Rapidly Varying Illumination

A new technique for maximum power point tracking (MPPT) of photovoltaic (PV) modules has been developed with the aim of maximizing their efficiency of photovoltaic energy conversion. The Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm has been employed in this work to track the Maximum Power Points (MPPs) of PV modules under partial and rapidly varying insolation conditions. Experimental arrangements were made to track the MPP of a PV module under partial and rapidly varying insolation levels and the results were compared with the MPP values obtained using the PSO-MPPT algorithm. Simulation results show that the PSO-MPPT method has an accuracy of 1% and a tracking response time of 1.42 seconds.