Rourkela: Researchers at the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela (NITR) have developed an innovative and cost-effective technology to maximize power extraction from solar panels under varying weather conditions. The research, led by Susovon Samanta, a professor at the electrical engineering department, along with PhD student Satabdi Bhattacharya and dual degree student Madhusmita Barik, has been granted a patent for its voltage sensor-based maximum power point tracking (MPPT) system.
The project, supported by the department of science and technology under the Clean Energy Research Initiative, addresses key challenges in solar power generation. Traditional solar systems struggle with power fluctuations due to changing weather conditions and require expensive current sensors, making them less accessible for small-scale applications. “Our method prevents power fluctuations that older techniques struggle with. It responds quickly to changes in sunlight and temperature while maintaining peak efficiency. The system’s simple design, using only a voltage sensor or resistor divider circuit, significantly reduces complexity and cost,” Samanta said.
The innovation has wide-ranging applications, from solar-powered IoT devices to home lighting systems and microgrid solutions. It is particularly suitable for remote and rural areas where reliable and affordable power sources are crucial.
The technology’s effectiveness has been validated through research published in prestigious journals, including IEEE Transactions on Sustainable Energy and IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics.