This Master of Applied Science thesis presents a single phase grid connected DC/AC
inverter with reactive power (VAR) control for residential photovoltaic (PV) applications.
The inverter, utilizing the voltage sourced inverter (VSI) configuration, allows the local
residential PV generation to actively supply reactive power to the utility grid. A low
complexity grid synchronization method was introduced to generate the parallel and
orthogonal components of the grid voltage in a highly computationally efficient manner
in order to create a synchronized current reference to the current control loop. In addition,
the inverter is able to use a small long life film type capacitor on the DC-link by utilizing a
notch filter on the voltage control loop. Simulations were performed on PSCAD/EMTDC
platform and a prototype was also developed in the lab to prove the effectiveness of the
controllers and the grid synchronization method.