Megawatt-scale test bench

High power testing up to 1 megawatt

As the energy transition accelerates, megawatt‑scale power electronics are becoming key enablers of large‑scale renewables, RES-BESS hybrid energy systems and high‑power electric mobility infrastructure. From power generation to storage and charging, these technologies sit at the core of next‑generation energy assets.

Ensuring their reliable integration into increasingly constrained and dynamic power grids is a critical success factor. Higher power levels, evolving grid codes and complex system interactions require thorough validation to secure performance, availability and long‑term value, and to reduce risks before deployment.

With Laborelec’s MW‑scale test bench, this validation can now be carried out in a controlled, realistic and reproducible environment, bridging the gap between laboratory testing and real‑world operation.

CORE CAPABILITIES OF THE TEST BENCH
  • AC grid emulator up to 1 MW
  • Bidirectional DC power supply 400-1500 Vdc / 1 MW
  • Wide AC voltage range (400 to 800+ Vac)
  • Regenerative closed‑loop architecture.
  • Advanced measurement, monitoring and performance analysis capabilities.
Benefits and added value

✅ Reduced project and investment risk

Early identification of technical defects, non‑conformities and performance limits before large‑scale deployment. MW‑scale testing under representative grid conditions helps avoid costly issues during commissioning and operation.

✅ Independent, trusted assessment

Laborelec acts as an independent third party, providing objective and bankable test results to support confident procurement, integration and deployment decisions.

✅ Stronger performance over the asset lifecycle

By validating robustness and performance upfront, we help improve reliability, availability, and economic performance from qualification to end of life.

GROWING CHALLENGES IN RELIABILITY AND PERFORMANCE

Power inverters

At the megawatt scale, power inverters used in renewable generation and battery storage are key components for grid integration, yet they are frequently pushed to the edge of their technical operating limits. Field experience has shown that inverter failures and grid code non compliances are among the main causes of unavailability and revenue losses in large scale assets. Thorough testing is therefore essential to de risk procurement choices, validate dynamic behaviour, and ensure long term reliability across the entire lifecycle.

Electric vehicle fast-charging stations

Fast, ultra-fast and megawatt EV chargers are key enablers of electric mobility, particularly for heavy duty vehicles operating on highways and major transport corridors. These systems must achieve very high technical availability while coping with rapidly increasing power levels, evolving standards and complex interoperability requirements. Testing is crucial to identify failure mechanisms, mitigate operational risks and ensure reliable service, especially before large scale rollout.

Hybrid energy systems

Hybrid power plants combining renewables, storage and other energy assets introduce new levels of complexity, particularly in terms of control, interoperability and dynamic interactions between components. As hybridisation is still relatively new at large scale, real life performance and endurance characteristics are not always fully known, even by manufacturers. Testing is therefore essential to de risk integrated designs, validate control strategies and avoid costly surprises during commissioning or operation.

TESTING CAPABILITIES ACROSS KEY USE CASES

Power inverters

The megawatt‑scale test bench enables realistic, fully controlled testing of utility‑scale power inverters, supporting the validation of performance, robustness, and grid‑code compliance prior to large‑scale deployment, such as:

  • Active and reactive power control, including frequency and voltage support (FFR, RoCoF, reactive power).
  • Fault ride‑through capabilities (LVRT / HVRT), including current injection behaviour.
  • Validation of grid‑forming functionalities and dynamic stability.
  • Operation under weak or disturbed grid conditions.
  • Assessment of power quality, efficiency, and thermal behaviour.

Heavy duty and high power EV charging systems

Our test bench enables testing of high‑power EV charging systems up to megawatt levels under grid‑connected conditions, supporting the validation of performance, control strategies and grid integration:

  • Integration testing of multiple AC and DC sources.
  • Energy balance analysis and overall system performance assessment.
  • Validation of control strategies and Energy Management Systems (EMS).
  • Analysis of dynamic interactions in grid‑connected and islanded operating modes.
  • Assessment of efficiency, thermal behaviour and interoperability with vehicles and communication protocols.

Hybrid energy systems

The test bench enables realistic testing of hybrid energy systems as fully integrated units, providing a holistic view of system behaviour, interoperability and performance under on‑grid and off‑grid conditions prior to on‑site deployment:

  • Reliability assessment and failure mode analysis.
  • Evaluation of energy efficiency and system losses.
  • Interoperability testing (IEC 61851, ISO 15118, MCS, OCPP).
  • Grid integration testing and accelerated ageing tests.
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