What is anti-islanding protection?

An inverter connected to a grid and outfitted with anti-islanding protection is designed to disconnect the electrical supply from the grid if a blackout occurs. Anti-islanding protection is a way for the inverter to sense when the power grid is struggling or has failed. It then stops feeding power back to the grid.

How do inverter-based Ders protect against islanding?

Inverter-based DERs, such as PV and storage systems, feature built-in protection mechanisms that detect when they have become islanded from the distribution grid. Inverters have traditionally used a number of anti-islanding protection methods that have been classified as either passive or active.

What is solar anti-islanding?

Solar anti-islanding is a safety feature built into grid connected solar power systems that can shut them off and disconnect them from the grid during a power outage.

Do inverters have anti-islanding protection?

If you hear someone say their inverter is fitted with anti-islanding protection, it simply means it has islanding detection (often based on voltage and frequency detection) and detects when the grid is down. That way, it stops feeding power back to the grid and protects utility workers.

What is islanding in a single-phase grid connected inverter?

In some cases, islanding is intentional. When this occurs, the inverter detects the grid event and automatically disconnects itself from the grid, creating an island intentionally. The single-phase grid connected inverter is then forced to push power to the local circuit. This method is used as a backup power generation system.

Why is anti-island sensing important?

Anti-island sensing is a very complex and interdependent process for these reasons. With today’s complex wind energy storage methods that use an inverter, choosing the right grid tie inverter connection is crucial. With an anti-islanding inverter connected to a grid, safe and reliable power is more likely.