The electric power grid has become more distributed. More localized electrical generation facilities operated by users produce an ever greater share of electricity. As the prevalence of localized electrical general facilities increases, more and more electronic loads localized throughout the grid increase problems of power factor (PF).
The PF typically refers to the relationship between current and voltage in an alternating current (AC) electric power system. The PF of an AC electric power system can be defined as the ratio of the real power flowing to a load to the apparent power that is seemingly being drawn from a power source. PF typically is a number between 0 and 1, and is frequently expressed as a percentage. Real power can be understood as the capacity of a circuit to perform work in a particular time. Apparent power can be understood as the product of the current and the voltage of the circuit.