Patent ID: 8907615

Claim:
A solar power inverter, comprising: a direct current (DC) input component configured to receive DC produced by one or more photovoltaic cells; a power generation component configured to generate alternating current (AC) from the DC produced by the one or more photovoltaic cells, the generated AC having a real power component and a reactive power component; an AC output component configured to output generated AC, wherein the AC output component is electrically coupleable to at least one of an electrical power grid and a load; a data input/output component configured to receive signals indicating electrical power grid synchrophasors, wherein the electrical power grid synchrophasors describe characteristics of AC transmitted by the electrical power grid at a remotely located substation, and wherein electrical power grid synchrophasors are measured at multiple control areas of the electrical power grid, wherein the solar power inverter is associated with a particular control area, and wherein the controller is further configured to identify the electrical power grid synchrophasors corresponding to the particular control area with which the solar power inverter is associated; a phasor measurement unit configured to generate inverter synchrophasors, wherein the inverter synchrophasors describe characteristics of AC electrically proximate to the AC output component; and a controller configured to— compare the electrical power grid synchrophasors and the inverter synchrophasors; and based upon the comparison, cause the power generation component to vary the reactive power component of the generated AC.