Advanced Energy Validated Photovoltaic Inverter Technology at NREL

Advanced Energy Industries—NREL's first partner at the Energy Systems Integration Facility (ESIF)—validated its advanced photovoltaic (PV) inverter technology using the ESIF's power hardware-in-the-loop system and megawatt-scale grid simulators.

Photo by Dennis Schroeder

The ESIF's utility-scale power hardware-in-the-loop capability allowed Advanced Energy to loop its inverter into a real-world simulation environment so researchers could see the impact of the inverter's advanced features on power reliability and quality. Advanced Energy's inverter will help support a smarter grid that can handle two-way flows of power and communication while reducing hardware costs.