Solar Charge Controllers using MPPT and PWM: A Review

With the increasing demand of power and energy, energy conservation and use of renewable resources have become a crucial necessity. Solar energy will become the ultimate and prime source of energy in near future. Therefore, highly efficient and low energy consuming solar-powered equipment and applications will soon be a major requirement. In this paper, solar charge controller using Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) and Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) have been analyzed and compared, which is needed in all solar powered systems that utilize batteries. Its role is to regulate the power going from the solar panel to the batteries. Most of the modern charge controllers include PWM and MPPT. These charge controllers are designed such that the solar battery gets recharged quickly and does not get over discharged, thereby ensuring the prolonged lifespan of the battery.