Whale Optimization based MPPT of Single Stage Grid Connected PV System with $\mathbf{H}\infty$ Controller

Many maximum power point tracking (MPPT) techniques are widely used to harvest maximum energy from Photovoltaic (PV) panels. Among those perturb and observe (P&O) method is an effective technique to work in the condition of uniform irradiance. However, an optimization algorithm is required to identify the global maximum location (GML) among the existence of many local maximum locations during partial shading conditions. The Whale inspired algorithm is a famous optimization technique to identify GML quickly as compared with many optimization algorithms. Usually a single stage grid connected PV system is a more efficient and economical method in medium power generations due to absence of an extra DC to DC converter. The interfacing inverter between PV and grid itself is working as a MPPT converter by regulating DC link voltage at GML. In this scenario, a whale inspired optimization technique can help to harvest more energy by a proper inverter controller. The H∞ controller can help to get fast response as well as to make the system more stabilized. Therefore, in this paper a novel controller is proposed for the inverter to work as a single stage grid connected PV system. The quality of power can also be supplied to the grid by the proposed controller. Extensive results based on Hardware-in the-Loop (HIL) are presented in this work on the platform of OPAL-RT technologies.