Maximum power point tracking


Maximum power point tracking (MPPT) is a technique used with wind turbines and photovoltaic (PV) solar systems to maximize power output.
This article concerns itself primarily with solar photovoltaics, but the basic theory applies to other uses of power photovoltaics such as optical power transmission and thermophotovoltaics. The efficiency of other types of power generation systems (such as wind turbines) can be optimized with similar load optimization concepts, though the form of the I-V curve may differ. It is of greatest interest when the power available to the system is variable, which is commonly the case in solar photovoltaics.