Photovoltaic energy has grown at an average annual rate of 60% in the last 5 years and has surpassed 1/3 of the cumulative wind energy installed capacity, and is quickly becoming an important part of the energy mix in some regions and power systems. This has been driven by a reduction of cost of PV modules. This growth has also triggered the evolution of classic PV power converters from conventional single-phase grid-tied inverters to more complex topologies in order to increase efficiency, power extraction from the sun, reliability, while not impacting the cost. This paper presents an overview of the existing PV energy conversion systems, addressing the system configuration of different PV plants, and the PV converter topologies that have found practical applications for grid-connected systems. In addition, recent research and emerging PV converter technology are discussed, highlighting their possible advantages compared with existing technology.