Solar Energy and Supercapacitor Integration: Efficient Energy Storage Solutions

This paper presents a comprehensive simulationbased design of a solar-powered energy storage system that employs a supercapacitor for rapid charge–discharge dynamics. The proposed system integrates a buck converter, a Perturb & Observe (P&O) maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm, and an overvoltage protection (OVP) circuit to ensure efficient and safe energy transfer. A physical model of the photovoltaic (PV) module is adopted to capture irradiance and temperature variations, thereby providing realistic performance insights. Simulation results demonstrate that the P&O-based MPPT scheme effectively extracts the maximum possible power under varying conditions, while the OVP mechanism reliably safeguards the supercapacitor from overcharging. The supercapacitor itself exhibits stable short- and long-term voltage responses, validated through controlled charging and discharging events. These findings highlight the suitability of supercapacitors for intermittent solar applications requiring high power density, rapid transients management, and extended life cycles.