SemiSouth helps drive Fraunhofer ISE’s PV inverters to world record efficiency
Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (FISE), based in Freiburg, says it has set a world record of 99.03% for the efficiency of inverters used in photovoltaic systems. By using new components and improving circuit technology, FISE researchers have reduced losses compared to their own previous top-level performance by a third.
“We now use junction field-effect transistors (JFETs) made of silicon carbide (SiC) manufactured by SemiSouth Laboratories Inc. This is the main reason for the improvement”, said Prof Bruno Burger, leader of the Power Electronics Group at FISE. “In addition, we have optimised the gate units and many other details of the circuit.” The record was measured for a complete PV inverter, including its internal power supply, a digital signal processor for controls, an LCL grid filter and a relay for connection to the grid.
