Design and Implementation of a Nine-Level Double-Boost Common-Ground Inverter With Minimal Component Count

Transformerless multilevel inverters with inherent boosting capability and common-ground connection are highly desirable for photovoltaic (PV) applications due to their compactness, high efficiency, and elimination of leakage current. This brief proposes a novel nine-level common-ground-type boost inverter topology employing switched capacitors with significantly reduced component count. The proposed inverter achieves a twofold voltage boost with self-balanced capacitor voltages, thereby eliminating the need for complex sensing and control. The topology features low total standing voltage, minimal conducting switches, and zero common-mode voltage, ensuring near-zero leakage current and reduced conduction and switching losses. Experimental results validate the inverter’s steady-state and dynamic performance in both standalone and grid-connected modes, confirming its suitability for PV integration. A detailed comparative analysis with existing topologies demonstrates superior figures of merit, making the proposed inverter a promising candidate for cost-effective and reliable grid-tied applications.