Abstract
To mitigate the challenges posed by the non-linear multi-peak power-voltage output characteristics of photovoltaic (PV) systems operating under partial shading conditions, which often lead to suboptimal performance of conventional Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) algorithms, a novel approach was introduced. We introduce the LGWGCA-P&O method, which synergistically combines an modified Great Wall Construction Algorithm (LGWGCA) with the Perturbation and Observation (P&O) technique. The LGWGCA is refined with a positional update mechanism inspired by the Grey Wolf Optimization (GWO) algorithm, optimizing the distribution of solution agents, while a Levy flight strategy is employed to reduce excessive randomness during agent replacement and recombination, thereby accelerating the tracking process. As the algorithm approaches the maximum power point, it seamlessly transitions to the P&O method, leveraging its rapid convergence to ensure precise and efficient power point identification. Experimental results demonstrate that the LGWGCA-P&O method achieves a PV conversion efficiency exceeding 99.96%, significantly minimizing power losses during MPPT. Furthermore, the method enhances convergence speed by approximately 40% compared to traditional GWO-P&O approaches, and it consistently outperforms Particle Swarm Optimization and Cuckoo Search Optimization algorithms under extreme conditions, demonstrating superior computational efficiency and robustness.