en Heuristics and Metaheuristics Heuristics and Metaheuristics Only For Articles of ELECRiS 2024 Only For Articles of ELECRiS 2024 <span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">Hydrokinetic energy harnessing has emerged as a promising renewable energy that utilizes the kinetic energy of moving water to generate electricity. Nevertheless, the variation and fluctuation of water velocity and turbulence flow in a river is a challenging issue, especially in designing a control system that can harness the maximum output power with high efficiency. Besides, the conventional Hill-climbing Search (HCS) MPPT algorithm has weaknesses, such as slow tracking time and producing high steady-state oscillation, which reduces efficiency. In this paper, the Variable-Step Hill Climbing Search (VS-HCS) MPPT algorithm is proposed to solve the limitation of the conventional HCS MPPT. The model of hydrokinetic energy harnessing is developed using MATLAB/Simulink. The system consists of a water turbine, permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG), passive rectifier, and DC-DC boost converter. The results show that the power output achieves a 28 % increase over the system without MPPT and exhibits the lowest energy losses with a loss percentage of 0.9 %</span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">.</span></span> Hill-Climbing Search, Hydrokinetic Energy Harnessing, MPPT Algorithm 27 35 http://ijeee.iust.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-5463-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 WAN ISMAIL IBRAHIM wismail@umpsa.edu.my 1800319475328460016451 1800319475328460016451 Yes Faculty of Electrical & Electronics Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, FTKEE UMPSA, 26600 Pekan, Pahang, MALAYSIA. Nasiruddin Sadan nasiruddin.sadan@jtm.gov.my 1800319475328460016452 1800319475328460016452 No Department of Asset Development & Maintenance, Institut Latihan Perindustrian (ILP) Bukit Katil, Lot 4345, Jalan Tun Telani, Mukin Bukit Katil, Hang Tuah Jaya, 75450 Ayer Keroh Malacca, Malaysia. Noorlina Ramli norlina@umpsa.edu.my 1800319475328460016453 1800319475328460016453 No Faculty of Electrical & Electronics Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, FTKEE UMPSA, 26600 Pekan, Pahang, MALAYSIA. Mohd Riduwan Ghazali Riduwan Ghazali riduwan@umpsa.edu.my 1800319475328460016454 1800319475328460016454 No Faculty of Electrical & Electronics Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, FTKEE UMPSA, 26600 Pekan, Pahang, MALAYSIA. Ilham Fuad admin@akumunikasi.com.my 1800319475328460016455 1800319475328460016455 No Aku Munikasi Snd Bhd. 3 Tower,349 Jalan Ampang, kampung Berembang, 55000 Wilayah Persekutuan, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.