Development of PV Inverter Testbed for IEC-61727 and IEEE 1547 Compliance Testing /

Abstract

Due to escalating energy costs and the transition towards cheaper and sustainable energy sources, there is a growing demand for rooftop grid-tie Photovoltaic (PV) systems. However, the market is saturated with non-compliant off-the-shelf inverters. This abundance tempts users to opt for cheaper, substandard inverters, compromising both reliability and power system integrity. To ensure seamless integration of inverter with the grid, thorough testing to validate its compliance is imperative. This thesis presents an indigenous inverter testing facility in accordance with IEC-61727, IEEE-1547-2018, and IEEE 1547-2020. The setup can simulate real time abnormal grid events to test under & over voltage and frequency protection, reconnection time, ride through capability, anti islanding detection, phase failure protection, and frequency watt droop feature. This system has the ability to identify missing characteristics in the tested inverters, particularly focusing on essential protection and grid support features. Furthermore, this thesis highlights the issues being faced in electrical system due to adoption of substandard commercial inverters.