Programmable Power Supplies and Loads Provide Comprehensive PV-Inverter Test

White Paper Overview

Governments, private enterprises, utilities, and even homeowners are moving to adopt renewable energy sources. In July 2021, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) predicted that the share of generation from renewable sources would increase from 20% in 2020 to 21% in 2021 and 23% in 2022, with most of the increase coming from new solar and wind generating capacity in the electric power sector. And within the renewable-energy industry, solar is emerging as a key contender. The EIA also predicted that the electric power sector would add 16 G.W. of solar photovoltaic (PV) generating capacity in 2021 and an additional 17 G.W. in 2022, with small-scale PV capacity (primarily residential) increasing by about 5 G.W. in each of those years.

At the heart of a PV system is the solar inverter that connects PV panels’ DC output to an AC load or the grid. In August 2020, Grand View Research Inc. forecasted that the PV inverter market would reach $13.0 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 5.6%. Central inverters generally serve in large-scale power-generation systems, while string inverters typically accompany residential solar installations, where a single string inverter operates several rooftop solar panels.

This white paper discusses effective solar-panel and grid simulations that can help propel renewable energy, PV inverter test challenges, inverter output tests, and more.