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Volume 13 | Issue 10 | Year 2026 | Article Id. IJEEE-V13I10P103 | DOI : https://doi.org/10.14445/23488379/IJEEE-V13I10P103

A Gaussian Process Regression based MPPT Strategy for Interharmonic Mitigation in On-Grid PV Systems

Rakhee Rajagopal, Latha Padinjaredath Govindan

Received Revised Accepted Published
22 May 2026 27 Aug 2026 21 Sep 2026 28 Oct 2026

Citation :

Rakhee Rajagopal, Latha Padinjaredath Govindan, "A Gaussian Process Regression based MPPT Strategy for Interharmonic Mitigation in On-Grid PV Systems," International Journal of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, vol. 13, no. 10, pp. 25-36, 2026. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/23488379/IJEEE-V13I10P103

Abstract

The widespread adoption of Photovoltaic (PV) systems as a renewable solution to rising energy demands has led to growing concerns regarding Power Quality (PQ) issues in grid current. The inherent intermittency of PV systems, along with several control techniques employed, is responsible for the generation of interharmonics that have severe impacts on the power system, including resonance and control instability. The severity of these issues increases with higher levels of PV penetration. Among the various contributing factors, the perturbation employed in the Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) strategy for PV systems is reported as a significant source of interharmonics, especially under low power conditions. This paper investigates the influence of perturbation step size on MPPT performance and interharmonic emission in a 100-kW grid-connected PV system. The limitations of fixed and hybrid Perturb and Observe (P&O) methods are analyzed in terms of tracking speed and power quality indices. To overcome the limitations of conventional perturbation-based MPPT methods, a Gaussian Process Regression (GPR) based MPPT approach is presented in this paper. Comparative analysis in simulation demonstrates that the proposed GPR-based MPPT significantly reduces Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) as well as Total Interharmonic Distortion (TIHD) in the grid current, while achieving faster tracking speed, zero overshoot, and improved steady-state efficiency. The proposed method offers an effective solution for improving energy harvesting as well as power quality in grid-connected PV systems, especially under low-power operating conditions.

Keywords

MPPT, Interharmonics, Gaussian Process Regression, Power Quality, Grid-Connected PV system.

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