Currently, solar energy is one of the leading renewable energy sources that help support energy transition into decarbonized energy systems for a safer future. This work provides a comprehensive review of mathematical modeling used to simulate the performance of photovoltaic (PV) modules. The meteorological parameters that influence the performance of PV modules are also presented. Various deterministic and probabilistic mathematical modeling methodologies have been investigated. Moreover, the metaheuristic methods used in the parameter extraction of diode models of the PV equivalent circuits are addressed in this article to encourage the adoption of algorithms that can predict the parameters with the highest precision possible. With the significant increase in the computational power of workstations and personal computers, soft computing algorithms are expected to attract more attention and dominate other algorithms. The different error expressions used in formulating objective functions that are employed in extracting the parameters of PV models are comprehensively expressed. Finally, this work aims to develop a comprehensive layout for the previous, current, and possible future areas of PV module modeling.

This paper presents a novel minimum seeking algorithm referred to as the Hunger Games Search (HGS) algorithm. The HGS is used to obtain optimal values in the model describing proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). The PEMFC model has many parameters that are linked in a nonlinear manner, as well as a set of constraints. The HGS was used with the aforementioned model to test its performance against nonlinear models. The main aim of the optimization problem was to obtain accurate values of PEMFC parameters. The proposed heuristic algorithm was used with two commercial PEMFCs: the Ballard Mark V and the BCS 500 W. The simulation results obtained using the HGS-based model were compared to the experimental results. The effectiveness of the proposed model was verified under various temperature and partial pressure conditions. The numerical output results of the HGS-based fuel cell model were compared with other optimization algorithm-based models with respect to their efficiency. Moreover, the parametric t-test and other statistical analysis methods were employed to check the robustness of the proposed algorithm under various independent runs. Using the proposed HGS-based PEMFC model, a model with very high precision could be obtained, affecting the operation and control of the fuel cells in the simulation analyses.