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.