Sand cat swarm optimization based maximum power point tracking technique for photovoltaic system under partial shading conditions

Maximum power point tracking (MPPT) plays a crucial role in photovoltaic systems (PVS). In partial shading conditions (PSCs), the P-V characteristic curves of PVS exhibit multiple peaks. Traditional MPPT algorithms, like perturbation and observation (P&O), may fall into local maximum power points (LMPP) and fail to identify the global maximum power point (GMPP). To address the drawbacks of conventional optimal search algorithms, this paper introduces a bio-inspired approach named Sand Cat Swarm Optimization (SCSO) for maximizing the power output of individual PVS. The SCSO can mitigate the adverse effects of partial shadows on PVS performance by precisely identifying the GMPP. In comparison to other bio-inspired algorithms, SCSO exhibits lower complexity and higher efficiency by utilizing only one optimization parameter. SCSO’s performance is evaluated in four scenarios: uniform irradiance, complex partial shading conditions, step-varying stochastic irradiance, and gradual irradiance. A comparative analysis is conducted with Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Cuckoo Search Algorithm (CSA), Grey Wolf Optimization (GWO), Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA), Moth-Flame Optimization (MFO), Crow Search Algorithm (CSA), Slap-Swarm Optimization (SSA) and P&O, focusing on factors such as high efficiency, accuracy, convergence time, and implementation simplicity. Simulation results demonstrate that, on average, the tracking time improves by 19.91%, achieving an efficiency of over 98% while maximizing energy yield. Simultaneously, experimental results indicate that the SCSO is capable of tracking to a larger power output in a shorter time, with an average tracking efficiency improvement of 3.16%.