This paper addresses modeling and simulation of a grid-connected photovoltaic system (GCPS) to analyze its grid interface behavior and control performance in the system design. A simple circuit model of the solar array is used to easily simulate its inherent characteristics with the basic specification data. Detailed power and protection control of the GCPS as well as its electrical circuits have been represented by user-defined and built-in components to take into account transients in normal and fault conditions, which are dominated by its power electronic controller. The model has been described with the reference to and implemented in PSCAD/EMTDC, a power system transient software package. Extensive simulation results are presented and analyzed to validate that the proposed simulation model is effective for control and protection performance evaluation of the GCPS in terms of electromagnetic transient analysis. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.