A study of maximum power point tracking algorithms for wind energy system

This paper reviews and studies the state-of the-art of available maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithms. Due to the nature of the wind that is instantaneously changing, hence, there is only one optimal generator speed is desirable at one time that ensures the maximum energy is harvested from the available wind. Therefore, it is essential to include a controller that is able to track the maximum peak regardless of any wind speed. The available maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithms can be classified according to the control variable, namely with and without sensor, and also the technique used to locate the maximum peak. A comparison has been made on the performance of the selected MPPT algorithms on the basis of various speed responses and the ability to achieve the maximum energy yield. The tracking performance is performed by simulating wind energy system using MATLAB/Simulink simulation package. Besides that, a brief and critical discussion is made on the differences of available MPPT algorithms for wind energy system. Finally, a conclusion is drawn.