Step size variability with high performance solar-wind grid integration using MPPT algorithm
Step size variability with high performance solar-wind grid integration using MPPT algorithm
Corresponding Author:
Pushpa Sreenivasan
Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Panimalar Engineering College
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Email: [email protected]
1. INTRODUCTION
As the load demand on the power system has increased, the consumption of fossil fuels like gas and
coal has increased recently. This rise presents major issues and has a big influence on the environment. Fossil
fuels are predicted to run out in the next decades because they are not renewable. The modernization of
society drives an ever-increasing need for power, even in the face of alternative energy sources. The best way
to meet this increasing demand for load is to make use of the replenishable energy sources that are currently
available. The most promising replenishable energy sources are wind and solar power, according to the
research. As of February 28, 2017, 57% of India's installed capacity for grid-tied renewable energy came
from wind power and 19% from solar photovoltaics [1]–[3].
Solar radiation and wind speed, respectively, determine how much power may be produced by
photovoltaic and wind systems. Variable and erratic voltage is caused by the high penetration of these
renewable energy sources. Power electronic converters must be integrated with a variety replenishable energy
sources to create a hybrid system that can reduce these variations [4], [5]. To optimize power extraction from
this integration, an approach for controlling maximum power point tracking (MPPT) is needed. For PV and
wind systems, a variety of MPPT algorithms, each with advantages and disadvantages, are utilized, such as
neural networks, hill climbing, fuzzy logic controllers, incremental conductance, perturb and observe (P&O),
and variable step size [6]–[9].
Due to their simplicity and ease of use, variable step size and hill climbing are popular, although
they suffer in unpredictable weather. While neural networks and fuzzy logic controllers provide sophisticated
tracking capabilities, particularly in situations with fast changes, incremental conductance effectively
manages non-linearity [10]–[12]. In hybrid settings, these techniques do, however, add to the system
complexity. In response, a universal MPPT control algorithm was created for hybrid systems; nevertheless,
this still necessitated the development of unique MPPT algorithms for every source, raising costs and
complicating matters. In a 560 W, PV and 500 W, wind hybrid system using a traditional Boost converter, a
modified single variable step size control technique is suggested for simultaneous maximum power tracking.
Simulation results confirm its efficacy [13]–[16].
2. PROPOSED TOPOLOGY FOR HYBRID PV AND WIND SYSTEM WITH SINGLE MPPT
A diode bridge rectifier processes the output from the wind system before sending it to the DC-DC
converter, which is connected to the PV system via a DC-DC Boost converter. By combining both sources at
a single DC link bus capacitor, a hybrid system is produced [17]–[19]. The proposed hybrid energy system
with the enhanced single variable step size MPPT is schematically diagrammed in Figure 1. With the help of
this enhanced variable step size MPPT control technology, the maximum power from the PV and wind
sources is extracted simultaneously. The PV system, wind system, and fundamental Boost converter
architectural modeling are covered in detail in the ensuing subsections [20].
Figure 1. Proposed topology for hybrid PV and wind system with single MPPT
First of all on the other hand, Iph = current generated by incident light, Ish = current flowing through the
parallel resistor Rsh, and Id = current flowing through the diode. To optimize power use, photovoltaic cells
are arranged in series and parallel configurations to form a photovoltaic generator, or GPV. The GPV's
governing equations are (2).
Where:
Int J Pow Elec & Dri Syst, Vol. 16, No. 4, December 2025: 2655-2664
Int J Pow Elec & Dri Syst ISSN: 2088-8694 2657
The PV array's output current is represented by Ipv, the cell's reverse saturation current by I s, the
temperature in Kelvin is represented by Tak, the PV module's output voltage is represented by Vpv, and the
number of PV cells connected in series and parallel are indicated by N s and Np, respectively. Furthermore, q
stands for the electron charge, A stands for the p-n junction ideality factor, and the value of Iph is provided
by (3).
In the given context, ISC represents the short-circuit current at reference temperature and irradiation,
Trk is the cell reference temperature, G is the solar radiation in W/m 2. Ki is the short circuit current
temperature coefficient [21]–[24]. Temperature and irradiance play a crucial role in determining power
generation in the cell, with this generation being inversely proportional to temperature and directly
proportional to irradiance.
Figure 2. PV cell
In this case, ρ is the air density, λ is the tip speed ratio, β is the blade pitch angle, r is the blade radius, Vw is
the wind speed, and Cp is calculated using the following formula.
In the wind induction generator model, the transfer function has a unity gain with a time constant of 0.3
seconds. Under maximum power point tracking (MPPT) conditions, this model is used in conjunction with
the pitch controller to optimize performance.
possible with bigger step sizes, whereas smaller step sizes permit finer adjustments and less power oscillation
around the maximum power point. Figure 3 shows high performance VS_PO MPPT Algorithm's operation.
ΔV=k(α.dPpv/dVpv+(1-α)dPwind/dVwind)
Where: ΔV-Step size for voltage perturbation; k- Adaptive gain constant; α-Weighting factor (0 ≤ α ≤ 1)
representing priority between PV and wind (default-0.5); and dPpv/ dVpv, dPwind/dVwind: Instantaneous power
gradients of PV and wind systems, respectively. This formulation enables the controller to:
a) Respond proportionally to the most dynamic source at a given moment
b) Prevent conflicting perturbations during opposing environmental changes
c) Maintain MPPT performance with minimal computational overhead
Unlike multi-controller strategies, this unified VS_PO algorithm simplifies implementation by using a single
controller for both sources, making it well-suited for embedded or cost-constrained hybrid systems. The
implementation avoids separate MPPT modules for PV and wind, thus reducing processor demand while
maintaining accurate and responsive tracking under mixed-source operation.
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Figure 4. A hybrid PV and wind system with a high-performance variable step size MPPT algorithm
integrated into the Simulink model
Step size variability with high performance solar-wind grid integration using … (Lakshmi Dhandapani)
2660 ISSN: 2088-8694
The proposed control strategy effectively ensures optimal power extraction from the combined
photovoltaic (PV) and wind turbine (WT) systems while meeting the grid-side power demands. As depicted
in Figure 10, the system maintains a steady grid current of 25 A and a voltage of 2000 V, confirming stable
operation. The total power output from the hybrid PV-WT system reaches 20 kW, aligning precisely with the
power requirements of the grid, as illustrated in Figure 11. This outcome validates the effectiveness of the
proposed methodology in reliably supplying and compensating the grid-side load demand under varying
operating conditions.
Figure 12 presents a comparative analysis of three MPPT algorithms: high-performance variable
step size (VSS) MPPT, slap swarm optimization (SSO), and artificial raindrop algorithm (ARDA), under
conditions of variable solar irradiance. The proposed VSS MPPT method demonstrates superior performance
in terms of tracking speed, power stability, and accuracy. Throughout the 10-second simulation period, the
VSS MPPT maintains an average power output of approximately 1105 W, with minimal deviation during
irradiance fluctuations. In contrast, the SSO method shows noticeable overshoots and undershoots,
particularly between 4 and 6 seconds, resulting in a lower average power output of about 1082 W and a more
pronounced ripple. The ARDA performs moderately well, with an average power of 1093 W, though it
exhibits slight lags during sudden irradiance changes. Overall, the proposed VSS MPPT exhibits faster
convergence, better real-time adaptability, and reduced power ripple compared to the other two methods,
making it highly effective for hybrid PV-wind applications where irradiance and environmental conditions
vary dynamically.
Based on important performance criteria like efficiency, convergence time, power ripple, control
complexity, and applicability for hybrid PV-wind systems, Table 1 compares popular MPPT algorithms.
High efficiency and quick convergence with little power ripple are achieved by the suggested variable step-
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size perturb and observe (VS_PO) algorithm, which also maintains low implementation complexity.
Interestingly, it allows for a single control strategy for wind and solar energy, which makes it ideal for hybrid
energy systems with constrained computing power.
Step size variability with high performance solar-wind grid integration using … (Lakshmi Dhandapani)
2662 ISSN: 2088-8694
5. CONCLUSION
This research introduces an innovative variable step-size perturb and observe (VS_PO) MPPT
algorithm tailored for hybrid photovoltaic and wind systems. Distinct from traditional dual-controller
schemes, the proposed method utilizes a unified control structure capable of managing both energy sources
simultaneously. By intelligently adjusting the step size based on instantaneous power variations from the PV
and wind inputs, the algorithm ensures faster tracking, stable output, and precise convergence under varying
environmental conditions. Simulation studies carried out in MATLAB/Simulink validate the effectiveness of
the proposed approach. When compared to salp swarm optimization and artificial raindrop algorithms, the
VS_PO method delivers superior results, achieving higher tracking efficiency (up to 98.5%), minimal power
ripple (<3 W), and rapid convergence (<0.3 s). The use of separate boost converters for each source, unified
at a common DC link, ensures consistent voltage regulation even under fluctuating load or irradiance.
Nonetheless, the findings are based solely on simulation, without accounting for real-world
nonlinearities and mechanical dynamics. Future developments will focus on hardware implementation,
dynamic wind modeling, temperature-sensitive PV behavior, and enhanced hybrid energy management using
intelligent controls. With its adaptability and low computational cost, the proposed strategy is well-suited for
smart grid and microgrid applications, especially in resource-constrained environments.
FUNDING INFORMATION
Authors state no funding involved.
Name of Author C M So Va Fo I R D O E Vi Su P Fu
Lakshmi Dhandapani ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Pushpa Sreenivasan ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Malathy Batumalay ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
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Int J Pow Elec & Dri Syst ISSN: 2088-8694 2663
DATA AVAILABILITY
The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the
article and its supplementary materials.
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Step size variability with high performance solar-wind grid integration using … (Lakshmi Dhandapani)
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BIOGRAPHIES OF AUTHORS
Int J Pow Elec & Dri Syst, Vol. 16, No. 4, December 2025: 2655-2664