A Dynamic on-Grid Solar Power System Using a Bi-Directional Counter Meter

Recent advancement in technology has led to a remarkable increase in solar cell efficiency while causing a reduction in the expenses of PV systems and the adoption of PV systems as a reliable source of energy globally. To further reduce the entry barrier of PV systems, most governments have introduced several incentives including a Net-metering tariff which uses a bi-directional meter for grid-connected PV systems. This research work focuses on the design and simulation of a 2kW grid-connected system with an integrated bi-directional metering unit. The design, modelling, simulation, and analysis of the developed system were done using the Simulink interface of the MATLAB suite. The system essentially consisted of a “Perturb and Observe†MPPT system, a phase-locked loop (PLL), an LCL filter, and a Mosfet-based single phase inverter system. In comparison to existing studies, the research features an integrated bi-directional metering unit to give a more practical overview of the implementation and operation of the counter-based bi-directional meters and net metering. The simulation result obtained from running the model at different levels of irradiance and the response of integrated bidirectional meter indicated a functional system capable of metering energy in both modes.