White Shark based optimization of a Stand-alone PV System with Different Tracking Techniques

Renewable energy resources can meet the increasing demand for energy and the associated depletion of traditional supplies. Renewable energy sources are sustainable and clean, but on the other hand, their initial costs are too much compared to other traditional energy sources. Also, the stochastic nature of these sources may affect the system reliability, especially for the Stand-alone Photovoltaic System (SAPV). The present paper provides different tracking techniques in order to improve both the cost and reliability of SAPV by increasing the output generated power. The objective of the present paper is to optimize both the sizing of SAPV and the tracking system type so that the overall cost is as minimal as possible. Also, the optimal tracking system dependency of the load type is analyzed. This paper uses White Shark (WS) to obtain the optimal design of the PV/battery stand-alone system with different tracking technologies and load patterns.