Solar photovoltaic model parameter identification using robust niching chimp optimization

Researchers are becoming increasingly interested in studying how to accurately estimate the parameters of solar PV models. In this regard, this paper proposes a newly proposed nature-inspired technique named chimp optimization algorithm (ChOA) to create accurate and dependable PV models, such as single diode, double diodes, three diodes, and PV module models. In the PV models' parameters estimation using optimization algorithms, two significant concerns need to be addressed: classifying various local/global optima and preserving these optimum values until the termination. Since ChOA is a general optimizer, it lacks an operator to address the two issues mentioned above. In order to address the mentioned problems, this paper embeds the niching technique in ChOA that includes the personal best qualities of PSO and a local search technique. In addition, a novel constraint handling approach is utilized to ensure that the algorithm is robust in tackling PV Models' parameters estimation constraints. The outcome of RN-ChOA is evaluated using seven well-known optimization algorithms, including the whippy Harris hawks optimization algorithm (WHHOA), performance-guided JAYA (PGJAYA), enriched Harris hawks optimization algorithm (EHHOA), improved JAYA (IJAYA), birds mating optimizer (BMO), flexible particle swarm optimization algorithm (FPSO), chaotic biogeography-based optimizer (CBBO), and generalized oppositional teaching-learning algorithm (GOTLA), as well as dynamic Levy flight ChOA (DLF-ChOA) and weighted ChOA (WChOA) as the most recent modified version of ChOA. Furthermore, the performance of the RN-ChOA method has been assessed in a practical application for parameter evaluation of three widely-used commercial modules, namely, multi-crystalline (KC200GT), polycrystalline (SW255), and mono-crystalline (SM55), under a variety of temperature and irradiance conditions that cause changes in the photovoltaic model's parameters. The findings demonstrate the robustness and excellent performance of the suggested approach.