Abstract This paper investigates a novel single stage AC–AC power conversion, as an alternative to multistage AC–DC–AC power conversion topology, for interfacing the wind energy conversion system (WECS) to a grid as a distributed load system. A comprehensive dynamic model of proposed AC–AC converter is developed to satisfy all the functions of the converter. A new time switching pattern and a control mechanism are described to convert a variable frequency input power proportion to the wind power to a constant frequency output power for a distributed load system in a single unit. The converter control functions are adapted to control active and reactive powers injected into the distributed load system. Based on time-domain simulations in the MATLAB environment, a comparative study has been made of the dynamic behavior of wind turbine generation system with the proposed AC to AC converter and conventional AC–DC–AC converter. The study concludes that an AC–AC converter is technically a viable option to interface a wind turbine to a distributed load system or utility grid application. A prototype of the proposed converter is developed in the lab taking variable frequency input voltage and then converting it to a constant output frequency voltage. The performance of the converter has been found satisfactory.