Z-source grid-connected inverter for solving the photovoltaic cell shading problem

An application of gird-connected inverter interfacing with renewable energy resources for electrical power generation such as photovoltaic, fuel cell, and microturbine has a higher attraction. The application of photovoltaic cell normally faces the shading problem of solar light: this will lead to inconsistent power generation and low system efficiency; therefore, the z-source grid connected inverter is proposed in this paper. The operation of a grid-connected inverter is explained. The boosted capability of dc voltage bus in the z-source inverter is also investigated for this grid-connected application. The design of z-source elements is also demonstrated including simulation results. The simulation results suggest that a z-source inverter is a promising technique to apply in a grid-connected inverter in order to improve the overall grid-connected inverter efficiency and solve the shading problems.