With the increasing integration of renewable energies into power grids, their control and power quality are becoming the main focus of many research efforts. In a grid-connected photovoltaic system, the control strategy is necessary to efficiently use the solar energy as well as to ensure high power quality. This paper presents a study on the robustness of a Fractional Order PI controller based on the Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm (PSO-FOPI) in a grid-connected PV system. The controller used was integrated into the inverter to apply voltage-oriented control (VOC). Fractional order controllers have an additional degree of freedom, so that a wider range of parameters is available to provide better control. Parameter optimization of the FOPI and classical PI controllers are performed using the PSO algorithm. The performance of the FOPI controller is compared with that of the classical PI controller. A complete study of the behavior of the grid connected PV system is tested using MATLAB/Simulink. The simulation results show the performance and efficiency of the PSO-FOPI controller compared to the classical PI controller in terms of rapidity, stability and precision, as well as the THD reduction of the current injected to the grid for any variation of solar irradiance.

The paper concentrates on a comparison between two DC/DC converters topologies, the conventional Boost and the Multi Level Boost Converter (MLBC), for connecting into PV systems. Several performance criteria are included as part of this comparison process for both converters under varying climatic conditions (irradiation and/or temperature). The DC/DC converters' function is to serve as an interface between PV generator and load. We apply MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) control with duty cycle adjustment using PWM technique for extracting the highest achievable output power from PV generator. The multilevel boost converter (MLBC), which is capable of monitoring and maintaining an equal voltage on all N output levels, along with controlling the input current. MATLAB/Simulink simulation results highlight the performance of the Multi-Level Boost Converter (MLBC) converter topology, to match the GPV voltage to the load.

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