Optimal design of a DC/DC converter for photovoltaic applications

Renewable energy is taken into consideration as the only viable alternative for the future energy demand in response to the undesired global warming perspective caused by the increase in CO₂ level which is associated with the excessive exploitation of the fossil energy supplies in the last century. As the wind energy already became industrially competitive, most of the research effort is now directed on cutting down the cost of capturing and utilizing the solar energy, which is another source of clean energy. This paper presents an approach on how to design and minimize the power losses and the cost of a DC-DC converter suitable for photovoltaic applications.