Implementation of a stand-alone photovoltaic pumping system with maximum power point tracking

Photovoltaic (PV) pumping systems using a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) technique aim to obtain the highest possible power to the pump under various insolation and temperature conditions, thus overcoming the mismatch between the photovoltaic panel and the pumping load. A simple method of tracking the maximum power points and forcing the system to operate close to these points is presented in this paper. The MC68HC908GP32 microcontrol unit (MCU) is employed to implement the proposed MPPT controller. Experimental results show the performances of a photovoltaic pumping system with the MPPT technique.