INVERTERS FOR APPLICATIONS IN HYBRID GENERATION POWER SYSTEMS USED IN ISOLATED LOCATIONS

Abstract

One of the main problems of using renewable energy in isolated communities with difficult access is the inverters that convert and regulate the load voltage. The mean time before failure of these inverters is normally lower than the desired. Combined to the distance and difficult access to these communities, this has led the communities to a loss of confidence in renewable technology. On the other hand due to seasonality of the sources the energy processor unit must have high efficiency. These factors require that the inverters used in these applications must be reliable and efficient. The purpose of this work is to present the first re sults of research and development of inverters to be used in such applications. The developed inverters are being tested to be used in the pilot project named “Renewable Hybrid System for the Lençóis’s Island, Cururupu-MA”. This system is based on solar and photovoltaic power sources, and this work will show a brief description of the application; the operation mode of the inverters and the efficiency results measured in the field. The results show the viability of the application of the developed inverters in renewable hybrid systems.