Ensuring grid Stability: Advanced Testing for Inverter Compliance and Performance.

The growth of distributed  power  generation is driving the increasing use of power electronics equipment to connect renewable energy sources to existing  grids. 

For component manufacturers and utilities, testing is the key to ensuring these grid  inverters  and converters perform as specified. In our  lab  we set electrical boundary conditions for realistic grid conditions and evaluate the interaction between the grid and power electronics systems in terms of power quality, system stability, harmonics and performance under fault  conditions  .

Capabilities and ratings:

  • testing capacity at low and medium voltages up to 1 MVAr
  • high bandwidth to create harmonics up to 2.4 kHz
  • ability to create static and dynamic voltage phenomena.
  • Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) and Power Hardware-in-the-Loop (PHIL) testing, enabling dynamic and realistic simulations of grid conditions.

Infrastructure and Tools

  • AC and DC Grid Emulators : Simulate real-world grid conditions up to 25 kV AC and 2 kV DC, with programmable harmonic injection and frequency control.
  • Solar Simulator : Emulates PV conditions for inverter testing.
  • Real-Time Simulation Platforms : Integration with OPAL-RT and Imperix platforms allows for rapid prototyping and co-simulation.
  • Power Amplifiers : High-bandwidth amplifiers enable precise control and interaction testing between inverters and simulated grid environments.

Testing Objectives

  • Grid Compliance : Inverters are tested against national and international standards such as CEI 021 / CEI 016, IEC61400-21-1, and FGW-TR3.
  • Dynamic Behavior : Includes simulating grid events, verifying inverter response, and validating control models.
  • System Integration : Evaluates how inverters interact with other components like battery systems and EV chargers in a full system context.

Value Proposition

  • A flexible, scalable, and safe environment for validating inverter performance under realistic and extreme conditions.
  • Supports certification, model validation, and innovation in inverter technology development.

With cutting-edge facilities and services, KEMA Labs supports the development, validation, and optimization of new power conversion technologies, ensuring reliable, efficient, and market-ready solutions.