Solutions for photovoltaic energy systems
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Leading products for end-to-end solar power solutions
Photovoltaic systems are one of the most demanded applications to address carbon reduction and increase the share of renewable energy in the grid. However, one of the biggest challenges facing the renewable sector is the need to balance supply and demand. The power supplied by photovoltaic (PV) modules fluctuates heavily depending on weather conditions. Nevertheless, the challenge of quitting fossil energy sources can be achieved with smart grid management and an energy storage system. PV panels supply power in the form of direct current (DC), which has to be converted to alternating current (AC) before it can be fed into the grid and consumed locally or transmitted to the point of use. Solar inverters convert DC to AC.
Efficient and reliable power semiconductors and inverter technologies are required to convert DC to AC and transmit the power with minimal losses. Combining solar systems with energy storage systems is one effective way of synchronizing supply and demand. Depending on their implementation, inverters fall into the micro inverter, power optimizer, string inverter, hybrid inverter, and central inverter. Our portfolio comprises a broad selection of inverters ranging from just a few watts and kilowatts for residential use to several megawatts for the commercial and utility-scale markets. It includes best-in-class discrete OptiMOS™, CoolMOS™ and CoolSiC™ MOSFETs and IGBTs in various package options, be it best-in-class TO247 discrete switches or highly integrated Easy modules, functionally integrated EiceDRIVER™ gate driver ICs, XENSIVTM current sensors, XMC™, PSoCTM controllers and AIROCTM and OPTIGATM for secured connectivity. Backed by our end-to-end application expertise, we offer the best product combinations to achieve leading power density levels and best-in-class efficiency. Our wide portfolio ensures the perfect match for a wide range of solar applications, including residential, small and large commercial, and utility-scale deployments.
Learn more about PV inverter types in the interactive graphic below
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Micro inverter
Micro inverters perform power conversion at each individual photovoltaic panel or multi-panel, usually these inverters are rated around 250 watt up to 1200 watt.
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Power optimizer solutions
Power optimization is used to convert variable DC voltage from the Photovoltaic (PV) panel into a fixed DC voltage through a DC-DC Power Optimizer. This stage can also be called Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT).
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String inverter
String inverters perform power conversion on series connected photovoltaic panels, usually these inverters are rated around few up to 350 kilowatt. They typically comes with MPP tracker (MPPT).
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Central inverter
Central inverters perform power conversion on multiple strings of solar panels, connected together. They are rated around 600 kW up to 1250 kW. Central inverter typically relies on single stage power conversion.
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Energy Storage System
Battery-based ESS technology can respond to power drop-outs in under a second, in particular it plays an essential role in making use of clean energy sourced from collocated solar or wind plants.
CoolSiC™ allows a power density increase by a factor of 2.5, e.g., from 50 kW (Si) to 125 kW (SiC) at a weight of less than 80 kg, so that two installers can lift it. With CoolSiC™ MOSFETs, the power of a string inverter can be doubled at the same inverter weight. Furthermore, the efficiency reduction at high operating temperatures is significantly lower compared to a Si solution. You can achieve maximum efficiency of over 99% by using CoolSiC™ MOSFET solutions from Infineon.
New whitepaper: Silicon carbide MOSFETs for next-level power density in solar and energy storage
The latest generation silicon carbide semiconductors and CoolSiC™ MOSFETs enable a significant increase in power conversion efficiency in solar power generation systems and associated energy storage. Read more about these applications and how lower loss not only saves energy, but also results in smaller and lighter equipment with lower capital, installation, and maintenance costs.
Application presentation: Exploiting the unlimited potential of Solar energy
This presentation gives you an overview of topologies, technological trends, and requirements of solar applications. Find out more about our offering for each inverter type – from the microinverter to the central and string inverter. Check our recommendations for your application, and you get your customized module in a five-month timeframe.
On-demand webinar: From solar and wind to energy storage
In the webinar, you will gain insight into renewables and the emerging applications of energy storage. Learn more about application trends and requirements, and understand Infineon's solution offerings for these applications.
Let’s learn more about how solar inverters work, from the ones we have in our houses, to the ones that are applied in major factories. We will also see how Infineon innovates in power semiconductors for solar inverter technology and how that can help with reducing costs and time to market.
Take this course to learn about the multilevel inverter demo board, targeting applications where efficiency and power density are critical.
Webinar
Learn how the application affects the choice of the MOSFET for motor drives, robotics, power supply, chargers, uninterrupted power supply (UPS), how to overcome some design challenges, and success stories.
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Webinar Slides
High-switching-frequency applications - Efficiency boost with OptiMOS™ 6 power MOSFET Technology
