Development of a Platform for Automated Tests of Photovoltaic Inverters

The field of power electronics and energy systems testing faces challenges in standardizing and automating procedures across various development stages, from early Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing to final certification in laboratories. Existing approaches often focus on laboratory automation or HIL testing automation separately, leading to uncertainties in the testing process. Lack of consistency in test procedures can hinder the accurate comparison of results obtained from different testing environments. This paper aims to address these gaps by presenting an automated Python platform for photovoltaic inverter testing. The platform operates seamlessly in both CHIL and laboratory environments, enabling selection of the testing modality that best suits the current development phase. The platform utilizes the same test procedures in all environments, making it independent of the specific test setup. It offers the flexibility to execute complex tests accurately and rapidly, with automatic reports. The proposed platform was evaluated in comparison with an accredited laboratory at the Smart Grid Institute - INRI, Federal University of Santa Maria - UFSM. Tests were conducted on a single-phase inverter, and the results demonstrated strong similarities between the platform's outcomes and those obtained in the accredited laboratory. By maintaining consistent test procedures, the platform ensures that results are comparable, reducing the time from initial development to certification.