2nd World Conference on Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conversion, Vienna, Austria, 1998

Islanding of Grid-connected PV Inverters: Test Circuits and some Test Results

H. Haeberlin and J. Graf
Berner Fachhochschule
Hochschule fr Technik und Architektur (HTA) Burgdorf, Jlcoweg 1, CH-3400 Burgdorf, Switzerland
Phone +41 34 / 426 68 11, Fax +41 34 / 426 68 13
Abstract: Many grid connected PV inverters are self-commutated. Therefore they have a certain design inherent
tendency for islanding. For safety reasons islanding is a major concern of many utilities. Several different methods to
prevent islanding are currently used. Passive monitoring of essential line parameters like voltage and frequency (in Japan
often also harmonics) are not sufficient. Therefore also active methods (e.g. frequency shifting, continuous line
impedance monitoring or power variations) are used. There are also many different proposals for tests circuits. The PV
laboratory of HTA Burgdorf has carried out many islanding tests with different inverters and test circuits. In this paper
some of these methods, their advantages and drawbacks and some test results are presented. At present there is no
international consent how to prevent islanding of grid-connected inverters. However, at least a common test circuit
seems feasible, where only one component has to be modified to perfom islanding test in countries requiring line
impedance monitoring (e.g. Germany) or in countries that allow also other protecting schemes (e.g. frequency shifting).
KEYWORDS: Grid-Connected - 1 : Inverter - 2 : Islanding - 3.

1. Introduction

2. Islanding under matched load conditions

Many grid connected PV inverters are self-commutated,

therefore they have a certain design inherent tendency for
islanding. For safety reasons islanding is a major concern
of many utilities.

To provoke islanding, it was always necessary to match a

load at least to the real power of the inverter in order to
bring the current between the inverter/load combination
and the mains close to 0 before opening the connection
switch. Self commutated inverters with RF-transformers
usually have a power factor close to 1, therefore operation
with matched real power was already sufficient to provoke
islanding in most cases, especially with designs from new,
unexperienced manufacturers. Fig. 2 shows the test circuit
used for the first islanding tests. Fig. 3 shows islanding of
an older inverter (SI-3000) after loss of line voltage.

In all the tests performed at the PV laboratory of HTA

Burgdorf since 1988 on many inverters [1, 2, 3], islanding
never occurred after simply interrupting the connection to
the mains. The output voltage of the first inverters, which
appeared on the Swiss market in the late eighties or early
nineties and which had no RF filter on the AC side yet,
dropped to 0 very quickly (within 1 or 2 cycles) after loss
of line voltage. In newer inverters there are RF filters at
the output to improve EMC behaviour. These filters
represent a reactive load which tends to increase slightly
the time until the cutoff of an inverter. Fig. 1 shows the
output voltage of a newer inverter with an EMC filter after
loss of line voltage under unmatched load conditions.

Oscilloscope
S

+0
+0

R
Inverter

Grid

Fig. 2: First test circuit for islanding tests with

matched load. Before opening the switches, R is adjusted
to bring the current through ammeter A to a minimum.
CH1 is used to determine the switching moment.

Fig. 1:

TopClass Grid II 4000/6, switch off without

matched load, Pac 900W, no islanding.
Top: output voltage of TC 4000/6 II, Bottom: line voltage,
Vertical: 200V/div, Horizontal: 50ms/div.
After loss of line voltage, a considerable increase of
voltage occurs for about 2 cycles.

Fig. 3:
Islanding of
SI3000 at
Pac 420W,
matched load
in circuit of
fig. 2.
Top: output voltage of SI3000, Bottom: line voltage,
Vertical: 200V/div, Horizontal: 20ms/div.
Islanding frequency is considerably lower and THD of
voltage higher than under normal operating conditions.

Islanding of Grid-connected PV Inverters: Test Circuits and some Test Results

H. Haeberlin and J. Graf

In most cases, such an islanding problem could be cured

very quickly by the manufacturer. Inverters with a
microprocessor control usually solved this problem by a
software modification.
For instance the stand alone frequency of the inverter can
be chosen slightly higher or lower than the permitted
frequency interval of the utility grid (in Europe: about 49.8
Hz to 50.2 Hz). By continuous monitoring of the output
frequency by the microprocessor, an islanding condition
can usually be detected easily within a reasonable time
(less than 1 second). This frequency shifting scheme for
islanding prevention is therefore quite easy to implement.
To avoid problems in areas with high inverter penetration
and inverters from different manufacturers, the direction
of the frequency shift and the permissible frequency
interval under islanding conditions (outside the normal
mains frequency interval) should be prescribed by an
internal standard.
With the upcome of newer inverter designs with low
frequency ring-core transformers, which proved to be more
rugged in practical operation, a certain amount of reactive
power is drawn from the grid. Therefore it became
necessary to include means to compensate any reactive
power consumption of the inverter to improve the
matching to the load during the test. A new German
proposal for islanding tests also introduced a mains
simulation resonance circuit with an additional L and C
consuming a reactive power of 100 Var (see fig. 4).
These measures make detection of an islanding condition
more difficult for the inverter under test. Therefore the
test circuit for the islanding tests used at the PV laboratory
of HTA Burgdorf was modified to the circuit shown in
Fig. 4. Fig. 5 shows an islanding test performed using this
circuit with a newer inverter.

Fig. 4: Improved test circuit for islanding tests.

R, L and C are adjusted until indication of ammeter A is at
a minimum (ideal case: 0). For tests according to Swiss
regulations Z is . For tests according to the new German
proposal, Z and mains impedance ZM combine to the total
impedance required for the test.
A three phase version of the test circuit of fig. 4 can be
used for islanding tests of three phase inverters.
With the addition of an impedance Z accross the
disconnect switch, the test circuit of fig. 4 becomes
equivalent to the more complicated test circuit according
to a new proposal from Germany, but it is much easier to
realize and to handle than the original German circuit
described in fig. 6.

Fig. 5:

Solarmax S, loss of line voltage with matched

load, Pac 800W, no islanding.
Top: Output voltage of Solarmax S, Bottom: Line voltage,
Vertical: 200V/div, Horizontal: 100ms/div.
About 380 ms after loss of line voltage the inverter shuts
down. This time is considerably lower than the maximum
time of 5 s permitted in the actual Swiss regulation.

3. Short description of some applicable

regulations for islanding prevention
Due to space limitations, only the key requirements can be
given here. Of course there are other requirements like
disconnection under over- und undervoltage conditions,
permissible frequency intervals and so on.
In Switzerland a very open regulation is applied:
5 seconds after loss of line voltage the inverter must have
switched off under all load conditions (including matched
load). This principal requirement must be fulfilled by
single phase and three phase inverters. The method to be
used is not specified.
In Germany, there are two different, more specific
regulations for single phase inverters:
One possibility is the use of a special three phase relay in
the inverter, permitting connection to the mains only if all
three phases are active. As in case of a utility
disconnection
all
three
phases
are
disabled
simultaneously, this measure is usually sufficient to avoid
islanding problems, especially if the inverter itself also
has some built in properties to prevent islanding.
The other, more recent proposal is to monitor grid
impedance to detect islanding. The inverter must not
connect the inverter if mains impedance ZM > 1.25 . It
must disconnnect the inverter within 5 seconds after a
change ZM > 0.5 or if ZM >1.75 . Line impedance
monitoring can be done efficiently in strong grids like in
cities, but might cause problems in weak rural grids. To
test line impedance at regular intervals, the inverters must
change the injected current into the grid at regular
intervals, calculate the line impedance from these
measurements, update the stored values from previous
measurements and compare changes and absolute values
against the figures given in the regulation. If the current of
the inverter itself is used, line impedance monitoring can
be done only when a sufficient amount of power is
injected into the grid. Fig. 6 shows the proposed test
circuit.

Islanding of Grid-connected PV Inverters: Test Circuits and some Test Results

H. Haeberlin and J. Graf

When the matching condition is met, IM and I are 0.

To get circuit 7b, VAF , ZAF , ZMand Z2 are converted to

an equivalent voltage source VS in series with
ZS ZAF+ZM . ( Z2 >> ZAF+ZM).
As IM and I are 0, VS = V = VM . When switch S is open,
the mains is still connected via ZS ZAF + ZM instead of
only ZM .
Fig. 6:

Circuit to test the automatic isolation

according to new German regulation [4].
Mains simulation oscillator circuit: An inductor L and a
capacitor C consuming Q = 100 Var. Additional AC feed:
30% of inverter power.

When switch S is open, circuit 7b is equivalent to the

circuit of fig. 7c. This is the much simpler circuit of fig. 4
with Z < . Opening switch S creates an impedance step
ZAF .

4. Measuring principle of two inverters with

grid impedance monitoring

By means of some network theory this circuit can be be

converted into the much simpler circuit of fig. 4 (use of
equivalent voltage source). In fig. 7 the necessary steps are
shown.
s
PINV

IINV

IM

I=0

A
Z1 V
I1

I2

ZM
(n==1)

VAF

VM
I 4,8 A

PAF=0.3 PINV
2,3 ms

s
PINV

A
IINV

IAF

Z M

Z AF

Z2

7a

ZM

t=0

Fig. 8:

IM

=0
ZS

Z1

ZM

t=0

Z AF + ZM

8S

8M

8M

I1

%>

t=0

Grid impedance measuring of SMA SWR700,

Pac 130W
Curve 1: Output voltage of SWR700 (100V/div),
Curve 2: Output Current of SWR700 (2A/div),
Horizontal: 2ms/div.
A current peak close to the zero crossing of the line
voltage is used.

ZM

PINV

IINV

Z AF
Z1

I1

%?
Fig.7: Conversion of test circuit according to fig. 6 into
test circuit of fig. 4.
The mains is represented by a voltage source VM in series
with mains impedance ZM.
In fig. 7a, total parallel impedance is split into Z1 taking
real power PINV from the inverter and Z2 taking the power
from the additional AC feed AF (usually connected at the
same point by means of an adjustable transformer with
ZAF). Mains impedance on the secondary side of this transformer is ZM ZM , as n 1.

Fig. 9:

Grid impedance measuring of Siemens

SPN1000 at Pac 130W
Curve 1: Output voltage of SPN1000 (100V/div),
Curve 2: Output Current of SPN1000 (2A/div),
Horizontal: 10ms/div.
Injection of current (and power!) is interrupted for about
2.5 cycles. To get a big difference, a strong current pulse
is used afterwards to measure line impedance.

Islanding of Grid-connected PV Inverters: Test Circuits and some Test Results

5. Japanese test circuit

In a recent proposal from Japan [5], a similar islanding
test circuit like fig. 4 (without a mains simulation
oscillator circuit and with Z = ), but with the addition of
an idling AC universal motor of about 500W is proposed.
To get reproducable results, more information about the
motor used (especially the moment of inertia and the
rotating velocity) should be indicated.

6. Proposal for common islanding test circuit

As the German test circuit is equivalent to the circuit of
fig. 4 with Z < , a common test circuit for all islanding
tests proposed in the last few years seems feasible by
simple addition of the AC motor proposed by Japanese test
institutions:

Fig. 10:
Proposed common test circuit for islanding tests.
For reproducable results, the type and rated power of the
motor (e.g. universal AC motor or three phase AC
induction motor operated single phase with a phase
capacitor, S 500VA) and load conditions (idling, moment of inertia and rotating velocity) should be specified.
In countries where continuous impedance monitoring is
required, values Z < can be applied, whereas in
countries without impedance monitoring the circuit can be
used with Z = .

7. Conclusions
A simple method to detect islanding is to choose the free
running frequency of the inverter outside of the frequency
interval of the utility grid. By continuous monitoring of the
inverter output frequency by the microprocessor, an
islanding condition can be detected easily. This frequency
shifting scheme is not affected by weak grids with relative
high impedances in rural areas and does not require a
minimum power level to be implemented practically. This
method has been adopted by many manufacturers yet and
is performing well in the field.

H. Haeberlin and J. Graf

However, if this scheme is used, it is essential to

standardize the direction of the frequency shift and the
permissible frequency interval under islanding conditions
(outside the normal mains frequency interval) in order to
avoid problems in areas with high inverter penetration and
inverters from different manufacturers.
Continuous line impedance monitoring is certainly a new
and interesting approach to the problem of islanding
prevention. However, it creates also some problems that
need further consideration:
- If the operating current of the inverter itself is used, a
certain minimum current (or power) is required to get a
detectable impedance signal. Therefore, the test
procedure used in Germany requires tests only at 30%
and 100% of rated power. However, if islanding is a
problem, it is not only dangerous at these power levels,
but also at lower power levels and should be prevented
also there.
- Continous current variations of inverters in order to
measure mains impedance create additional noise
(voltage fluctuations) on the mains which is certainly
not desirable and reduces power quality. Current test
pulses with line frequency are preferable to minimize
possible interference.
- At locations with weak grids or frequent voltage
fluctuations, stable operation of inverters with
continuous line impedance monitoring may be affected
or even be impossible.
- If a large number of inverters using line impedance
monitoring is used close together, their test signals may
interfere, giving false impedance values and make
proper operation impossible.
- In cities with very large transformers, remaining loads
in a disconnected part of the grid might constitute a
total impedance lower than 0.5 preventing a detection
of an islanding condition. This of course would only be
a problem with a very large penetration of grid
connected PV systems, which is not the case yet in the
near future.

Acknowledgements
We thank some former assistants, who carried out the
measurements shown in fig. 3, 8 and 9 and created some
of the graphs used. Our special thanks go also to the
institutions that gave us financial support. The work
described in this paper was funded by the Swiss Federal
Office of Energy (BFE), Berne. Our PV activities in
general are supported by IBB, Burgdorf and EWB, Berne.

References
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