Design and Implementation of MPPT Solar Charge Controller Using Hill Climbing Algorithm

The output power from a Photovoltaic (PV) module, aimed at charging a battery, relies on both the solar radiation it receives and the surrounding temperature. The voltage generated by the solar panel fluctuates due to variations in the solar light intensity. However, maintaining a constant voltage is important for charging batteries and powering DC loads. To achieve this, charge controllers are utilised. While PWM solar charge controllers suffice for lighter loads, this paper focuses on a Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) solar charge controller designed to charge a 12V lead acid battery efficiently from a solar panel. MPPT controllers are more advanced, offering 30 to 40% greater efficiency and numerous advantages over other controllers. The application of the Hill Climbing algorithm optimises the MPPT charge controller, ensuring maximum power generation by the solar PV panel under varying radiation levels. A hardware board is developed to facilitate the extraction of maximum power by the solar panel, effectively harnessing incident radiation.