A A comprehensive comparison of the two MPPT techniques (P&O, SMC) for photovoltaic systems

Abstract

This paper aims to study the behavior of different maximum power point tracking (MPPT)
techniques applied to PV systems. In this work, we evaluate and compare perturbation and observation (P&O)
and sliding mode control (SMC) techniques. a DC/DC boost converter is used between the PV system and
load to transfer the maximum possible power. the conventional MPPT methods Perturb and Observe (P&O)
cannot detect and track the highest peak. Thus, this causes an important loss of power, so a technique is
suggested sliding mode control, which offers many benefits such as durability against parameter changes,
minimal current output distortion, and excellent reference tracking. The simulation results shown in MATLAB
confirm that the sliding mode control method allows to have a faster response compared to P&O, to reduce
the steady-state fluctuations and better track the maximum power point with fewer power losses.