Comparison of GaN and Si-based photovoltaic power conversion circuits using various maximum power point tracking algorithms

In this paper, several maximum power point tracking algorithms are implemented in both GaN-based and Si-based photovoltaic power conversion systems. Due to their simplicity and versatility, the algorithms chosen for this study include the constant voltage method (CVM), perturb and observe (P&O), and incremental conductance (INC). Each of these algorithms is implemented in GaN-based and Si-based boost converters to extract maximum power from a PV panel. When irradiance on the panel is increased from zero to its maximum level, each converter utilizes the algorithms to track this change and reach the maximum power point. It is noted that the improved efficiency of the GaN device over the Si device is not algorithm dependent and thus algorithms implementable on a Si-based converter are anticipated to be implementable on a GaN-based converter with increased efficiency and enhanced convergence.