A worldwide concern for future access to affordable, sustainable energy is driving the development of more efficient solar power generation. In any photovoltaic (PV) based system, the inverter is a critical component responsible for the control of electricity flow between the module, battery, loads, and power grid. Inverters, which convert direct to alternating current, can be designed to be used with different voltage ranges and topologies for varying applications. They can also be designed with or without transformers. Besides DC/AC conversion, inverters provide additional functions such as maximizing power, battery charging, and protecting the circuit.
All of these functions require optimized intelligent control that can occur in real time or near-real time. The wide variations in application and operational requirements mean that the system control has to be highly flexible. Digital signal processor (DSP) based controllers, such as the Texas Instruments TMS320C2000™ family of controllers, provide the high level of computational performance and programming flexibility needed for the real-time signal processing in solar power inverters. Highly integrated digital signal controllers help inverter manufacturers create more efficient, more cost-effective products that can support the growing demand for solar energy in upcoming years.