A HIGH-GAIN FIVE-LEVEL INVERTER TOPOLOGY FOR PHOTOVOLTAIC APPLICATIONS UNDER WIDE INPUT VOLTAGE VARIATIONS

Abstract

Photovoltaic (PV) energy systems are increasingly being integrated into modern power grids due to their environmental benefits and sustainable energy generation capabilities. However, the intermittent nature of solar irradiation causes significant variations in PV output voltage, which adversely affects the performance of conventional inverter systems. This paper presents a novel high-boost five-level inverter topology designed to operate efficiently under a wide range of input voltage variations. The proposed inverter integrates a high-gain DC–DC boosting stage with a five-level multilevel inverter structure, reducing the requirement for bulky transformers and improving overall power conversion efficiency. An Artificial Neural Network (ANN)-based control strategy is employed to regulate the voltage gain and maintain stable output voltage under varying solar conditions. The multilevel output waveform significantly reduces harmonic distortion while enhancing power quality. MATLAB/Simulink simulations are carried out under different irradiance conditions to validate the effectiveness of the proposed system. The results demonstrate superior voltage boosting capability, reduced Total Harmonic Distortion (THD), improved efficiency, and enhanced dynamic response compared with conventional two-level and three-level inverter systems.