EFFICIENT PV GRID INTEGRATION THROUGH A SIMPLIFIED SINGLE-CAPACITOR FIVE-LEVEL INVERTER TOPOLOGY

Abstract

The increasing penetration of photovoltaic (PV) systems into modern power grids demands efficient, cost-effective, and reliable power conversion technologies. Multilevel inverters (MLIs) have emerged as a promising solution due to their ability to generate highquality output waveforms with reduced harmonic distortion and improved efficiency. However, conventional MLI topologies often require multiple capacitors and complex switching schemes, leading to increased cost, size, and control complexity. To address these limitations, this paper proposes a simplified five-level multilevel inverter topology utilizing only a single capacitor, designed specifically for grid-connected PV applications. The proposed inverter reduces the number of passive components while maintaining highquality voltage output and minimizing total harmonic distortion (THD). A control strategy based on sinusoidal pulse width modulation (SPWM) is employed to regulate output voltage and ensure efficient power transfer from the PV system to the grid. Simulation studies conducted in MATLAB/Simulink demonstrate that the proposed topology achieves THD values below IEEE-519 standards, enhances efficiency, and lowers switching losses compared to conventional cascaded and diode-clamped inverters. The findings confirm that the simplified singlecapacitor five-level inverter is a cost-effective and reliable solution for efficient PV grid integration, supporting the advancement of clean and sustainable energy systems