Inverter-based Resources

IBR. BPS-connected resources that have a power electronic interface.

Last Updated:  June 20, 2025

Definition by NERC

Source:

Refer generally to BPS-connected facilities that have a power electronic interface between the AC grid and the source of electricity.

Two clarifications from the source reference are excerpted here:

What types of IBR exist?

Inverter-based resources include modern wind turbines, meaning type 3 and type 4 wind turbines, solar photovoltaic, and battery energy storage resources, as well as HVDC circuits and FACTs devices like static synchronous compensators and static volt-ampere reactive compensators.

What is the difference between IBR and DER?

  • DER are generating resources located on the distribution system.
  • DER may or may not use inverter technology to interface with the AC grid; however, they are distinctly different than BPS-connected inverter-based resources (connected to transmission and sub-transmission levels).