PurposeSilicon photovoltaics technology has drawbacks of high cost and power conversion efficiency. In order to extract the maximum output power of the module, maximum power point (MPP) is used by implying the nonlinear behavior of I-V characteristics. Different techniques are used regarding maximum power point tracking (MPPT). The paper aims to review the techniques of MPPT used in PV systems and review the comparison between Perturb and Observe (P&O) method and incremental conductance (IC) method that are used to track the maximum power and gives a comparative review of all those techniques.Design/methodology/approachA study of MPPT techniques for photovoltaic (PV) systems is presented. Matlab Simulink is used to find the MPP using P&O simulation along with IC simulation at a steady temperature and irradiance.FindingsMATLAB simulations are used to implement the P&O method and IC method, which includes a PV cell connected to an MPPT-controlled boost converter. The simulation results demonstrate the accuracy of the PV model as well as the functional value of the algorithms, which has improved tracking efficiency and dynamic characteristics. P&O solution gave 94% performance when configured. P&O controller has a better time response process. As compared to the P&O method of tracking, the incremental conductance response rate was significantly slower.Originality/valueIn PV systems, MPPT techniques are used to optimize the PV array output power by continuously tracking the MPP under a variety of operating conditions, including cell temperature and irradiation level.