Minimizing power loss of hybrid Quadra tied solar PV arrays using Cuckoo search MPPT algorithm during shading scenarios

This study assists in selecting the appropriate solar photovoltaic (SPV) array configuration and metaheuristic maximum power point tracking (MPPT) technique to minimise power loss in rooftop SPV systems resulting from partial shading conditions (PSCs) caused by tall adjacent buildings in urban environments. A hybrid SPV array configuration, termed Alternate — Quadra Tied — Cross Tied (A-QT-CT), that integrates Quadra Tied (QT) and Total Cross Tied (TCT) configurations is proposed. This configuration is designed to provide maximum power extraction comparable to the best performing TCT configuration, while incorporating a reduced number of cross-links. Simulations were conducted utilising MATLAB to evaluate the performance of these configurations in the context of typical PSCs found in urban environments. This evaluation includes a comparative analysis with the established TCT, Series-Parallel (SP), Bridge Linked — TCT (BL-TCT), and SP-TCT configurations. The proposed configurations are integrated with Perturb & Observe (P&O), Cuckoo Search (CS), and Particle Swarm Optimisation (PSO) MPPT techniques. These algorithms were evaluated under PSCs using MATLAB simulations, as well as a hardware model implemented with the Texas Instruments TMS320F28379D microcontroller. The time required to track the MPP and the steady-state MPPT efficiency are assessed. The combination of the CS MPPT method with A-QT-CT and TCT configurations has been identified as the optimal solution for minimising power loss in this application.