Review of maximum power point tracking approaches suitable for PV systems under partial shading conditions

Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) is an important consideration in Photovoltaic (PV) Systems, particularly as these systems increase in size and are exposed to non-uniform environmental conditions. Conventional MPPT techniques are designed to track the Maximum Power Point under uniform conditions where there is a single maximum power. Under non-uniform environmental conditions, with bypass diodes integrated into the circuit, the Power-Voltage characteristics become more complex resulting in multiple local maxima. Under such conditions, conventional MPPT techniques cannot track the global maxima and may result in considerable energy losses. This review paper explores the approaches designed to mitigate the complexities arising from non-uniform environmental conditions in PV system operation.