Executive Summary : | Inverter-based solar PV sources (PVSs) often pose stability issues to the grid due to their intermittent nature and lack of inherent inertia. Grid forming (GFM) control could be a potential alternative to GFL inverters, as it can maintain desired voltage and frequency at the point of common coupling (PCC). GFM controlled inverters can also perform standalone mode of operation, making their implementation essential for increasing renewable power penetration to the grid. Reducing energy costs of solar PV power generation is crucial, especially when the installed PV system is utilized more efficiently. Subarray level control in a PV inverter can increase power extraction, improving the utilization of the PV system and reducing the payback period of the installed system. Simultaneous control of two subarrays is only possible with GFL controlled inverters, but GFM inverters can only control one PV array. Therefore, subarray level control should be implemented in a GFM controlled inverter. There is a pressing need to develop a GFM solar PV inverter that can control two subarrays simultaneously. This requires deriving a power circuit topology and suitable control strategy, as well as inhouse fabrication of the proposed inverter. A power circuit topology has been derived, and a preliminary control strategy for controlling two subarrays simultaneously in the GFL mode has also been derived. The fabricated inverter will have a TRL level up to 6 and a solar PV inverter demonstration setup with various modes will be implemented using a test bench developed under this project. |