A power converter can include an inverter including, connected in series, switching elements, the inverter circuit being connected to both ends of a DC power source series circuit resulting from connecting in series a DC power source and a DC power source. Also included can be an AC output terminal that is connected to a connection point of the switching element and the switching element, an AC output terminal that is connected to a connection point of the DC power source and the DC power source, a bidirectional switch element one end of which is connected to the AC output terminal and the other end of which is connected to a terminal of an AC power source and a bidirectional switch element one end of which is connected to the AC output terminal and the other end of which is connected to the AC power source.