Comprehensive Review and Comparison of Single-Phase Grid-Tied Photovoltaic Microinverters

Abstract

The power processing and the presence of the electrical isolation between the PV module and the grid is a very crucial aspect in determining the performance requirement, as well as the utility operator's specifications for the PV microinverter design. The grid-connected PV microinverter design can be classified into four categories: 1) nonisolated single-stage topologies; 2) isolated single-stage topologies; 3) nonisolated double-stage topologies; and 4) isolated double-stage topologies. Typically, a microinverter's performance can be enhanced by the use of nonisolated topologies to be more efficient, more compact, less bulky, and less costly than the isolated topologies. Whereas, the use of a transformer in microinverter topologies provides high-power quality as well as galvanic isolation to eliminate the safety issues, which in return meet the grid standards. The power processing (boosting the dc voltage of PV panel, extracting the maximum power and converting it to ac power), which can be achieved either via single stage or double stage, has a significant impact on the microinverter performance. This paper reviews and compares experimentally verified microinverter topologies in terms of their corresponding efficiency, power density, reliability, and cost. The most efficient topology in each category is designed and simulated in comparison with a benchmark. The topologies are then compared in terms of their component count, input voltage range, modular structure, soft-switching implementation, and battery integration.