High-efficiency MPPT method based on irradiance and temperature measurements

Maximum power point tracking (MPPT) is essential in off-grid and grid-tied photovoltaic (PV) applications to extract the maximum available power. This study presents a new MPPT technique named irradiance and temperature (I&T) method. This technique uses the estimation of irradiance and measurement of temperature to define the MPP. It is based on the observation of irradiance effects in PV module current and temperature dependency of PV module voltage. The irradiance will be evaluated through the measurement of short-circuit current. In addition, temperature reading is employed to determine its effects in temperature-dependent variables, thus providing higher efficiency to the I&T method. Good stability in steady state and fast tracking speed, in different conditions of irradiance and temperature, are important features of this technique. Experimental tests compared the performance of the I&T method with conventional and parameter-based methods. The performed tests highlight the effectiveness of the proposed method at uniform and dynamic weather conditions.