Designing a microcontroller-based platform for real-time testing of the maximum power point tracking algorithms

Due to their nonlinear characteristics, photovoltaic (PV) panels produce power that varies with environmental and structural conditions. Maximizing power transfer to the load is essential for system efficiency. Traditional Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) algorithms such as Perturb and Observe (P&O), Incremental Conductance (IC), Constant Voltage (CV), and Short-Circuit Current have been widely studied, yet most evaluations remain limited to simulations. This study introduces a hardware platform that enables real-time, simultaneous testing of two MPPT algorithms. The setup includes 100–300 W PV panels, 400 W resistive loads, and a 1 kW boost converter controlled by an STM32F4 microcontroller. The system measures voltage, current, temperature, irradiance, and output data, with real-time monitoring via a MATLAB/Simulink interface. Performance was assessed through P–V curves, revealing that although P&O reached the maximum power point faster, it became stuck at local maxima and exhibited oscillations under partial shading.