Converters for grid-connected DC energy sources: a simulation tool to meet expected utility specifications

Local power generation equipment connected to the public utility grid based on DC-AC power conversion equipment are becoming progressively more widely used. The presence of local sources may produce operational and safety problems, of which the utility companies are responsible. For this reason, many utility companies are working to produce rules and constraints for perspective local producers, that could eventually become national or international standards. In the meantime advanced static power converters with digital control can be proposed that perform new regulation operations providing solutions to these problems. The lack of experience in the performance of these new equipment can be compensated by studying their possible performances by means of simulation tools, so as to allow their potential to be taken in proper consideration