MPPT using Firefly Algorithm for Cuk Converter in Photovoltaic

Denda Dewatama (Politeknik Negeri Malang)
Siswoko Siswoko (Department of Electrical Engineering, State Polytechnics of Malang, Indonesia)
Hari Kurnia Safitri (Department of Electrical Engineering, State Polytechnics of Malang, Indonesia)
Oktriza Melfazen (Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Islam Malang, Indonesia)

ELKHA : Jurnal Teknik Elektro
Vol. 14 No. 1 April 2022

High intensity of sunlight in Indonesia (up to 10 hours per day) is a great opportunity to be utilized as renewable energy by absorbing solar energy using solar panels. The absorbed solar energy is channeled into a DC/DC converter circuit with a Cuk converter topology so that it can be used with small current ripples. The Maximum Power Point Tracker (MPPT) method is needed to get optimum power from solar panels. To optimize the MPPT value, its performance is supported by using the Firefly Algorithm (FFA). This study focused on observing changes in FFA parameters, i.e., firefly populations and random parameters to generate optimal power on Cuk converter topology with MPPT method. FFA embedded in microcontrollers has successfully optimized MPPT performance with the best response obtained in the firefly population = 25, absorption coefficient (γ) = 0.5, random value (α) = 0.6, iteration = 10, with an optimal power of 25.7 Watts.