Bidirectional power supply (regenerative power supply)

Bidirectional power supplies, also called regenerative power supplies, are power supplies capable of both source and sink operations. For instance, battery charge/discharge cycle testing requires a power source when charging and an electronic load when discharging.
With a conventional setup, this requires physically switching connections between a separate power supply and an electronic load. A bidirectional power supply eliminates this need for reconnection, as both sourcing (charging) and sinking (discharging) are controlled simply by changing the unit's settings.
Furthermore, the power absorbed during discharge is not wasted as heat; instead, it is efficiently returned to the AC grid, reducing overall energy consumption.
Moreover, a bidirectional power supply can simulate battery operation because it functions as both a power source and an electronic load.
This battery simulation capability is ideal for evaluating devices like on-board chargers (OBCs) and inverter circuits.