One of the most promising power electronics converter topologies is the Z-source inverter (ZSI). The ZSI is an emerging topology for power electronics dc-ac converters with interesting properties such as buck-boost characteristics and single-stage conversion. A two-port network, composed of two capacitors and two inductors connected in an X shape, is employed to provide an impedance source (Z-source) network, coupling the inverter main circuit to the dc input source. The ZSI advantageously uses the shoot-through (ST) state to boost the input voltage, which improves the inverter reliability and enlarges its application fields. In comparison with other power electronics converters, it provides an attractive single stage dc-ac conversion with buck-boost capability with reduced cost, reduced volume, and higher efficiency due to a lower component number. For emerging power-generation technologies, such as fuel cells, photovoltaic (PV) arrays, and wind turbines, and new power electronic applications such as electric and hybrid vehicles, the ZSI is a very promising and competitive topology [1]-[4].

Integration of distributed energy resources (DERs) has numerous advantages as well as some disadvantages. To safely integrate DERs into a given distribution network and to maximize their benefits, it is important to thoroughly analyze the impact of DERs on that particular network. The maximum amount of DERs that a given distribution network can accommodate without causing technical problems or without requiring infrastructure modifications is defined as the hosting capacity (HC). In this work, a review of the recent literature regarding the HC is presented. The major limiting factors of HC are found to be voltage deviation, phase unbalance, thermal overload, power losses, power quality, installation location and protection devices’ miscoordination. The studies are found to employ one of four different methods for HC calculation: (i) deterministic, (ii) stochastic, (iii) optimization-based and (iv) streamlined. Commercially available tools for HC calculation are also presented. The review concludes that the choice of tools and methods for HC calculation depends on the data available and the type of study that is to be performed.

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