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ROLE OF POWER ELECTRONICS IN RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS

Veda Prakash Galigekere and Marian K. Kazimierczuk

Wright State University

Abstract: The rapid increase in global energy renewable energy sources cannot support the entire grid
consumption and the impact of greenhouse gas by themselves [1]. They have to be connected to the
emissions has accelerated the transition towards main grid acting as auxiliary power sources reducing the
greener energy sources. The need for distributed burden on the primary power generation units. They
generation (DG) employing renewable energy sources could also be employed to serve load units isolated from
such as wind, solar and fuel cells has gained the main grid. A power system employing wind powered
significant momentum. Advanced power electronic turbines, fuel cell based sources, micro generators, and
systems, affordable high performance devices, and photovoltaic systems augmenting the main power lines
smart energy management principles are deemed to will constitute a distributed power generation (DG)
be an integral part of renewable, green and efficient system. In a DG system end users need not be passive
energy systems. This paper briefly describes the consumers, they can be active suppliers to the grid.
attributes of DG. An overview of wind, fuel cell, solar Conventionally, important parameters of power delivered
based energy conversion systems has been presented. (frequency and voltage) are monitored and controlled by
A qualitative description of the role of power the large power generator units (usually consisting of
electronics in wind, solar, and photovoltaic systems synchronous generators). In case of DG systems, the
has been presented. power electronic interface has to regulate the voltage,
frequency, and power to link the energy source to the
Key Words: Fuel cell, Photovoltaic, Wind energy
grid. The focus will be on high power density, robust dc-
conversion, Wind Turbines, Z-source converter. ac and ac-ac modules with complex control and safety
requirements.
I. INTRODUCTION
This paper presents some of the requirements of the
The global energy consumption has been continually power electronic interface as applicable with respect to
increasing over the last century. Official estimates wind, fuel cell, and photovoltaic power generation units
indicate a 44 percent increase in global energy and qualitatively examines the existing power electronic
consumption during the period 2006 - 2030 [1]. It can be topologies that can be employed. Energy storage is also
said that fossil fuels (liquid, coal and natural gas) have very important for DG, however, this paper focuses
been the primary energy source for the present day solely on the power electronics aspects of DG. Section II
world. Sustained urbanization, industrialization, and presents an overview of wind power generation and the
increased penetration of electricity have led to associated challenges. Section III and IV present
unprecedented dependency on fossil fuels. Presently, the overviews on power generation based on fuel cells and
most important concerns regarding fossil fuels are the photovoltaic and its implication on the associated power
green house gas emissions and the irreversible depletion electronic circuits respectively. Section V presents the
of natural resources. Based on the official energy conclusion.
statistics from the US Government, the global carbon
dioxide emissions will increase by 39 percent to reach II. WIND ENERGY SYSTEMS
40.4 billion metric tons from 2006 to 2030 [1]. Green
house gas emissions and the related threat of global Wind energy has the biggest share in the renewable
warming and depleting fossil fuel reserves have placed a energy sector [1], [3]. Over the past 20 years, grid
lot of importance on the role of alternative and greener connected wind capacity has more than doubled and the
energy sources. cost of power generated from wind energy based systems
has reduced to one-sixth of the corresponding value in
The quest for cleaner and more reliable energy sources the early 1980s [3]. The important features associated
has considerable implications to the existing power with a wind energy conversion system are:
transmission and distribution system as well.  Available wind energy
Traditionally bulk of the power is generated and
 Type of wind turbine employed
distributed to the large load centers via transmission
 Type of electric generator and power electronic
lines. The transfer of power was always one way, from
circuitry employed for interfacing with the grid
the utilities to the consumers. In the immediate future,
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Fig. 1. Variable speed wind energy conversion system.

maximum power. This is enabled by variable speed
Wind energy – Wind speeds, air pressure, atmospheric operation and the power electronic module interfacing
temperature, earth surface temperature etc., are highly the turbine and the grid.
inter-linked parameters. Due to the inherent complexity,
it is unrealistic to expect an exact physics based
prediction methodology for wind intensity/sustainability. Based on the aerodynamic principle utilized, wind
However, distribution based models have been proposed, turbines are classified into drag based and lift based
and employed to predict the sustainability of wind turbines. Based on the mechanical structure, they are
energy conversion systems [4]. Detailed explanation of classified into horizontal axis and vertical axis wind
the wind energy resources is beyond the scope of this turbines. With respect to the rotation of the rotor, wind
paper. Based on studies it has been reported that the turbines are classified into fixed speed and variable
variation of the mean output power from a 20 year period speed turbines. Presently the focus is on horizontal axis,
to the next has a standard deviation of less than 0.1 [4]. It lift based variable speed wind turbines [2], [3]. Power
can be concluded with reasonable confidence that wind electronic circuits play a crucial enabling role in variable
energy is a dependable source of clean energy. Basics of speed based wind energy conversion systems.
physics of wind energy can be summarized as below.
The power that can be extracted from the wind is Fixed speed wind turbines are simple to operate, reliable
and robust. However the speed of the rotor is fixed by
the grid frequency. As result, they cannot follow the
(1) optimal aerodynamic efficiency point. In case of varying
wind speeds, fixed speed wind turbines cannot trace the
where is the blade length, is the density of air, optimal power extraction point CPmax. In variable speed
wind turbines, power electronic circuitry partially or
is the wind velocity, is called the tip speed ratio, and
completely decouples the rotor mechanical frequency
is called the power coefficient [4]. from the grid electrical frequency, enabling the variable
The tip speed ratio is defined as the ratio of the tip speed speed operation. The type of electric generator employed
to wind speed. and the grid conditions dictate the requirements of the
power electronic (PE) interface. Fig. 1 depicts a variable
(2) speed wind energy conversion system. The electrical
generator popularly employed for partially variable
It is accepted that the maximum attainable efficiency for speed wind energy conversion systems are doubly-fed-
wind energy conversion is 0.59 [3]. versus induction-generators [5]. Fig. 2 depicts a doubly-fed-
induction-generator where the rotor circuit is controlled
characteristics are important indicators of the by the power converter system via the slip rings and the
aerodynamic efficiency of a wind turbine. Based on the stator circuit is connected to the grid. This method is
aerodynamic blade theory, there is an optimal advantageous as the power converter has to handle a
fraction ~ 25% - 50 % of the total power of the system
corresponding to . The present day variable [5]. The power converter system employs a rotor side ac-
speed wind turbines follow the point to extract the dc converter, a dc link capacitor, and a dc-ac inverter
connected to the grid as shown in Fig. 2. The power
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converter enables vector control of the field which

facilitates active/reactive power control.

Fig. 2. Limited range, variable wind energy conversion system.

Fig. 3. Fully variable wind energy conversion system.

The rotor side converter controls the speed and torque of inherently buck operation hence the turbine side ac-dc
the rotor and the stator side convertor maintains a converter has to ensure sufficient voltage level is
constant voltage across the dc link capacitor, irrespective obtained in order to integrate with the grid. If additional
of the magnitude of the rotor power. This method is more boosting of the voltage is required, an additional dc-dc
efficient than the fixed speed system; however it does not boost converter can to be employed. This increases the
reflect the possible optimal efficiency. overall cost and complexity. To overcome the
shortcomings a Z-source inverter based conversion
By employing a full scale ac-ac converter system the
system can be employed [9]. Z-source inverter is a
wind turbine can be completely decoupled from the grid,
relatively new topology and has the following
enabling a wider range of optimal operation. Such a
advantages over the conventional voltage source/current
scheme is depicted in Fig. 3. The variable frequency ac
source inverters:
from the turbine is fed to the three phase ac-dc-ac
 Buck-boost ability
converter. The generator side ac-dc converter is
 Inherent short circuit protection due to Z-source
controlled to obtain a predetermined value at the configuration
terminal of the dc link capacitor. The dc voltage is then
 Improved EMI as dead bands are not required
inverted using a six-switch dc-ac inverter. Inversion is
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Fig. 4. Z-source based variable speed wind energy conversion system.

Z-source inverter based wind power conversion systems III. FUEL CELL SYSTEMS
are relatively new, however researches are investigating
its applicability. A Z-source converter based wind energy Fuel cells offer clean, non-toxic energy at relatively good
system has been studied and presented in [9]. Fig. 4 energy densities (higher than lead-acid battery) and high
shows a Z-source based wind energy conversion system. reliability. Fuel cells cannot store energy as opposed to a
A single stage three phase ac-ac Z-source converter is battery, However, they can continually produce
presented in [10]. Table I gives a qualitative summary of electricity. Presently the fuel cells being popularly used
the wind energy conversion systems. are:
 Solid oxide
TABLE I  Molten carbonate
Comparison of wind energy conversion systems.  Proton exchange membrane
 Phosphoric acid
WEC Generator Grid Key points  Aqueous alkaline
based on integration
Fixed Induction Direct Constant The efficiency of fuel cell systems are ~ 50 %. Along
speed generator speed with heat recovery systems the efficiency can be as high
system Simple as ~ 80 % [2]. Description of the electrochemical process
Low involved in the power generation process of a fuel cell is
controllability beyond the scope of this paper. This section briefly
describes the electrical characteristics of fuel cells and
Partially Doubly-fed- ac-dc-ac Highly their implications on the power electronic interface
variable induction- voltage controllable circuitry. Fig. 5 shows the typical V-I characteristics of a
system generator source Vector fuel cell [11].
converter control of
active and
reactive
power

Fully Induction ac-dc-ac Highly

variable generator or voltage controllable
system synchronous source Wide range of
generator converter speeds.
or For Z-source,
potentially Short circuit
Z-source protection
converter Improved
EMI feature.
Fig. 5. Typical terminal voltage and
current characteristics of a fuel cell
[11].
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(a)

(b)

Fig. 6. Fuel cell based energy conversion systems

(a) dc-ac-ac conversion (b) dc-dc-ac conversion.

Fig. 7. Energy conversion system with dc-dc converter followed by 3 phase VSI.

The main drawbacks of fuel cells are: also provides electrical isolation improving the overall
 Inability to store energy - difficult to cold start reliability. Fig. 6 shows two methods of obtaining usable
 Output voltage is low varies with the load - ac output from the fuel cell. In Fig. 6 (a), the dc output
requires a boost stage with regulation from the fuel cell is first inverted using a conventional
 Low slew rate - hampers dynamic performance, voltage source (VSI) inverter or a current source inverter
needs backup energy storage. (CSI) and then the ac voltage is stepped up employing a
transformer. Inversion from dc to ac employing VSI is
Due to the above mentioned reasons, auxiliary energy inherently a buck operation hence this method invariably
storage along with PE based power conditioning is requires a step-up transformer. In Fig. 6 (b), the fuel cell
essential to realize a practical fuel cell based system. The output voltage is stepped up employing a dc-dc converter
output voltage is low dc and in many cases line and then the stepped-up dc voltage is inverted to line
frequency ac is required (grid integration), this requires frequency ac. Conventionally this method has been more
voltage step up and dc-ac inversion. To meet the popular owing to the absence of transformer and the
dynamic load changes, energy back up (battery or ultra- controllability of the dc-dc converter.
capacitor) is required. Various dc-dc converter
topologies, dc-ac inversion methods have been evaluated The options for isolated dc-dc converters [15] and their
for this purpose by researchers in the past [2], [11], and features are discussed below.
[12].  Forward converter – suffers from restrained
duty cycle and requires an excitation resetting
Due to limited boosting capability of non-isolated boost tertiary winding.
converters, isolated versions have been preferred (turns  Push pull – requires center-tap transformer, not
ratio can be utilized to enhance the overall boost). This ideally suited for high power applications.
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 Full bridge converter – suitable for fuel cell

applications. Compared to half bridge dc-dc
converter it has more components however the IV. PHOTOVOLTAIC ENERGY CONVERSION
device current stresses are lesser.
SYSTEMS
 Half bridge dc-dc converter – is well suited for
fuel cell applications. For improved efficiency Photovoltaic energy systems consist of arrays of solar
H-bridge based soft switching series resonant cells which create electricity from irradiated light. The
converter is more suited. The other advantages yield of the photovoltaic systems (PV) is primarily
of this topology include inherent short circuit dependent on the intensity and duration of illumination.
protection and no saturation problem of the PV offers clean, emission-less, noise-free energy
transformer. conversion, without involving any active mechanical
system. Since it is all electric it has a high life time (> 20
years) [2]. A lot of work is being done to enhance the
efficiency of the solar cell which is the building block of
PV. In this regard the focus is mainly on electro-physics
and materials domain. Some of the existing PVs and
their efficiencies are [2]:
 Crystalline and multi-crystalline solar cells with
efficiencies of ~11 %.
 Thin film amorphous Silicon with an efficiency
of ~10%.
 Thin-film Copper Indium Diselenide with an
efficiency of ~12% .
 Thin film cadmium telluride with an efficiency
of ~9%.
PV panels are formed by connecting a certain number of
solar cells in series. Since the cells are connected in
Fig. 8. Fuel cell energy conversion system employing a series to build up the terminal voltage, the current
Z-source converter. flowing is decided by the weakest solar cell [2], [13].
Parallel connection of the cells would solve the low
Traditionally for dc-ac conversion three phase, six- current issue but the ensuing voltage is very low (< 5 V).
switch VSI have been used extensively. This technique is These panels are further connected in series to enhance
well established and the control strategies are well the power handling ability. The entire PV system can be
developed too. The main drawback of VSI is that its seen as a network of small dc energy sources with PE
operation is inherently a step down operation. Z-source power conditioning interfaces employed to improve the
inverter presented in [8] incorporates the boost feature efficiency and reliability of the system.
into the VSI without altering the inherent features of the
VSI. This topology appears to be very useful for fuel cell The role of PE is mainly two-fold:
and other renewable energy applications. Fig. 7 shows I. To interconnect the individual solar panels – two
fuel cell energy conversion with a current-fed full-bridge solar panels cannot be identical hence a dc-dc
dc-dc full bridge converter and a conventional dc-ac VSI. converter interfacing the two will help maintain the
Fig. 8 shows a fuel cell energy conversion system required current and voltage, and with regulation
employing a Z-source dc-ac inverter. improve the overall efficiency.
Several non-isolated dc-dc converters have been
Most of the real time power-electronic enabled energy employed for this purpose. Buck, buck-boost, boost,
systems have energy backup in the form of a capacitor and Cuk topologies with suitable modifications can
bank, ultra-capacitor, or a battery to augment the primary be employed for this purpose [13].
energy source like during dynamic loads. In dc-ac grid Fig. 9 shows a PV system with dc- dc module used
connected inverter based systems, since the grid voltage to interface the PV panels.
level and frequency are fixed the control variable is II. To interface the dc output of the PV system to the
limited to being the current. The real and the apparent grid or the load - This includes the previously
power being injected into or drawn from the grid have to discussed topics of dc-dc-ac and dc-ac-ac
monitored and controlled using complex control conversion. The topologies considered for fuel-cell
strategies. system grid interconnection correlates to the grid
interconnection of PV based system as well
including the usage of the Z-source inverter.
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Fig. 9. PV system with dc-dc module.

V. CONCLUSION 8. F. Z. Peng, “Z-source inverter,” Industry

Applications, IEEE Transactions on, vol. 39, pp.
The importance of renewable energy, renewable energy 504-510, 2003.
based energy conversion systems, and distributed power
9. D. Mahinda Vilathgamuwa, Wang Xiaoyu,
generation has been reiterated. A brief overview of the
Gajanayake, “Z-source Converter Based Grid-
wind energy basics and the existing PE interface
interface for Variable-speed Permanent Magnet
requirements and techniques have been addressed
Wind Turbine Generators,” in Proc. PESC2008.
qualitatively. The basic electrical characteristics of fuel
Conf, 2008, pp. 4545-4550.
cell and photovoltaic based systems have been presented.
10. Fan Zhang, Xupeng Fang, Fang Z. Peng, Zhaoming
The different methods of integrating these systems to the
Quian, “A New Three-Phase AC-AC Z-source
grid have been briefly described. The advantage of
Converter,” in Proc. APEC’06 Conf., 2006, pp. 13-
employing a Z-source inverter over a conventional dc-ac
126.
VSI has been emphasized. It can be concluded that with
11. E. Santi, D. Franzoni, A. Monti, D. Patterson, F.
the advancements being made in the area of renewable
Ponci, N. Barry, “A fuel Cell Based Domestic
energy and distributed power generation power
Uninterruptible power Supply,”, in proc, APEC
electronics has a demanding and critical role in the future
2002 Conf, 2002, vol. 1, pp. 605-613.
of efficient power generation and distribution.
12. Jin Wang, Fang Z. Peng, Joel Anderson, Alan
Joseph and Ryan Buffenbarger, “Low Cost Fuel Cell
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Ceanga, E., Optimal Control of Wind Energy Veda Prakash Galigekere received the B.E, M.S
Systems, Springer, 2008. Degrees from VTU, Belgaum, India and Wright State
6. Juan Manuel Carrasco, Leopoldo Garcia Franquelo, University, Dayton, Ohio in 2004 and 2007 respectively.
Jan T. Bialasiewicz, Eduardo Galvan, Ramon C. He is currently pursuing his PhD at Wright State
Portillo Guisado, Ma. Angeles Martin Prats, Jose University. His areas of interests are PWM dc-dc and dc-
Ignasio leon, and Narciso Moreno-Alfonso, “Power- ac inverters, power semiconductor devices, renewable
Electronic Systems for the Grid Integration of energy systems and system level simulations of the same.
Renewable Energy Sources: A Survey,” IEEE
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Aug. 2006. engineering at Wright State University. His areas of
7. R. Pena, J. C. Clare, and G. M. Asher, “Doubly fed research are electronic circuit analysis, high-frequency
induction generator using back-to-back PWM tuned power amplifiers, power electronics, high-
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wind-energy generation,” Proc. Inst. Elect. Eng., is a Fellow of the IEEE and has published more than 250
Elect. Power Appl., vol. 143, no. 3, pp. 231-241, papers. He is the author of “Pulse-Width Modulated DC-
May 1996. DC Power Converters,” Wiley, 2008.