Enhancing photovoltaic parameter estimation: integration of non-linear hunting and reinforcement learning strategies...

The advancement of Photovoltaic (PV) systems hinges on the precise optimization of their parameters. Among the numerous optimization techniques, the effectiveness of each often rests on their inherent parameters. This research introduces a new methodology, the Reinforcement Learning-based Golden Jackal Optimizer (RL-GJO). This approach uniquely combines reinforcement learning with the Golden Jackal Optimizer to enhance its efficiency and adaptability in handling various optimization problems. Furthermore, the research incorporates an advanced non-linear hunting strategy to optimize the algorithm's performance. The proposed algorithm is first validated using 29 CEC2017 benchmark test functions and five engineering-constrained design problems. Secondly, rigorous testing on PV parameter estimation benchmark datasets, including the single-diode model, double-diode model, three-diode model, and a representative PV module, was carried out to highlight the superiority of RL-GJO. The results were compelling: the root mean square error values achieved by RL-GJO were markedly lower than those of the original algorithm and other prevalent optimization methods. The synergy between reinforcement learning and GJO in this approach facilitates faster convergence and improved solution quality. This integration not only improves the performance metrics but also ensures a more efficient optimization process, especially in complex PV scenarios. With an average Freidman's rank test values of 1.564 for numerical and engineering design problems and 1.742 for parameter estimation problems, the proposed RL-GJO is performing better than the original GJO and other peers. The proposed RL-GJO stands out as a reliable tool for PV parameter estimation. By seamlessly combining reinforcement learning with the golden jackal optimizer, it sets a new benchmark in PV optimization, indicating a promising avenue for future research and applications.