MPPT Performance Analysis for PV Energy Harvesting Using Grey Wolf Optimization (GWO) Algorithm

Renewable energy is a key solution to meeting the growing demand for electricity while reducing reliance on non-renewable sources. Among various renewable technologies, photovoltaic (PV) systems are widely used in solar power plants (PLTS) to harness solar energy. However, PV efficiency is affected by environmental factors such as fluctuating solar irradiance and temperature, which cause instability in output voltage and power. To address these issues, Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) techniques are applied to optimize power extraction. This study proposes the Grey Wolf Optimization (GWO) algorithm for MPPT and evaluates its performance through MATLAB/SIMULINK simulations under varying irradiance and temperature conditions. Inspired by the hunting behavior and social hierarchy of grey wolves, GWO dynamically adjusts the converter's duty cycle based on real-time voltage and current measurements to maximize output power. The study focuses on PV systems in Malang, Indonesia, and compares GWO with the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) method in terms of accuracy and stability. The results indicate that increased solar irradiance substantially enhances PV power output, while rising temperatures tend to reduce efficiency. The GWO algorithm achieves an average tracking accuracy of 94.5632%, slightly lower than the 96.9851% achieved by PSO. However, GWO demonstrates superior performance in terms of stability, with faster convergence and reduced oscillations during the tracking process. A comparison of system performance before and after applying the GWO method shows notable improvements in tracking consistency and power extraction efficiency, especially under dynamic environmental changes. The novelty of this study lies in its use of real-world environmental data collected over a 30-day period in a tropical setting, which is rarely addressed in previous GWO-based MPPT research. These findings highlight the potential of the GWO-based MPPT strategy to enhance PV system reliability and efficiency in real-time renewable energy applications.