MPPT algorithm for photovoltaic arrays under partial shading conditions

The importance of renewable energies has brought the attention of many researchers around the globe in different areas of solar power generation, such as building, controlling, power injection, and even recycling. This work studies the effect of partial shading on a solar array, composed by many panels in series and parallel to achieve a given amount of power to inject energy into the grid. The focus of this work is toward the design and implementation of an algorithm capable to find the global maximum power point despite the existence of other local maximum power points (MPPs). The algorithm is based on scanning for the maximum power point around points of state space, where it should, if the actual power changes as a function of irradiance and temperature. In order to control the voltage at the photovoltaic solar array, a DC-DC boost converter is employed, which is controlled by using the steady state model. Simulated results show the feasibility of the proposal and a fastdynamic behavior associated to finding the maximum power point, no matter where the global MPP is located.