Efficiency enhancement of PV panel using soft computing based seeker optimization algorithm and seven level inverter configuration

Renewable energy is obtained from various natural processes such as heat generated by sun. Solar energy fluctuates with the intensity of the radiated light. As a result the output power of the panel varies. This varying supply can neither be connected to grid nor used for load. Hence to obtain a constant power, maximum power point technology (MPPT) is adopted. Existing algorithms like Perturb and Observe technique and Incremental Conductance proved to be less efficient in finding the optimal solution. Hence soft computing technique called seeker optimization algorithm is proposed to find the maximum power point. The proposed MPPT control algorithm is developed in MATLAB, which optimizes the PV panel voltage. Generated solar energy usually requires conversion to an alternating quantity, which requires the use of inverters. A seven level inverter is implemented to obtain a harmonic less AC output. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm proves to be more efficient than the existing techniques.