Evaluating maximum power point tracking performance by using artificial lights

The output characteristics of photovoltaic arrays are nonlinear and change with the cell's temperature and solar irradiation. Maximum power point tracking (MPPT) control in the design of photovoltaic (PV) systems is essential to draw peak power from the solar array to meet the load requirement. Therefore, the performance of maximum power point tracking is an important factor for system designers to evaluate the photovoltaic power system behaviour. In this paper, an experimental evaluation method is introduced to test the performance of maximum power point tracking (MPPT) by using photovoltaic modules and low-cost artificial lights. With controllable insolation level, both dynamic and steady state response of the PV-MPPT systems can be measured and evaluated. It can be treated as a fair method to compare different MPPT control algorithms under the same (or very similar) operating conditions.