As the world grapples with the pressing challenges of climate change and geopolitical instability, the demand for energy self-consumption has surged. In response, photovoltaic (PV) technology has emerged as a pivotal solution for individuals seeking to achieve energy independence within their homes. However, traditional string or microinverters have limitations when it comes to addressing the need for energy storage. This is where hybrid inverters play a crucial role.
The Unique Advantages of Hybrid Inverters
- Hybrid inverters streamline the building of PV systems by connecting multiple panels and converting DC to AC power.
- They can route DC currents directly to an Energy Storage System (ESS) like a battery, reducing energy losses and enhancing efficiency.
- Single-phase hybrid inverters use key topologies in their power stages, such as the DC-DC stage with MPPT technique and the DC-AC stage with advanced topologies like HERIC, H6, and Multilevel for higher efficiency.
The introduction of hybrid inverters has transformed the landscape of energy self-consumption and residential solar systems. These advanced devices not only simplify the integration of multiple PV panels and the conversion of DC to AC power but also enable the direct routing of DC currents to an Energy Storage System (ESS) like a battery, effectively reducing energy losses and enhancing overall system efficiency. This results in a significant reduction in the materials, space, and complexity required for constructing PV systems, making them more accessible and cost-effective for homeowners. Within the power stages of single-phase hybrid inverters, specific topologies such as the DC-DC stage with Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) and the preference for advanced topologies like HERIC, H6, and Multilevel in the DC-AC stage play a crucial role in ensuring efficient energy conversion, highlighting the pivotal role of single-phase hybrid inverters in optimizing energy generation and consumption for evolving residential energy systems.
Hybrid Inverters- key to energy independence in emerging markets
Challenged by the need to reduce emissions and achieve energy independence, economies across the globe are exploring various means for creating green energy. Emerging regions like Asia Pacific are vulnerable to climate change and need to accelerate its decarbonization to reach net zero and limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Photovoltaic energy becomes the best bet in such challenging situation. Various governments have been promoting installation of photovoltaic systems at residential, commercial and utility scales. In order to scale up the installation rate and to make energy affordable for rural population, countries like INDIA have been promoting subsidized installation of residential rooftop systems. For example, the Government of India launched the PMSY Scheme (Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojna - Prime minister household free electricity scheme) earlier this year to promote installation of roof top systems at 10 million households and achieve 20GW installations within the project timeline. Hybrid and grid tied inverters are qualified to participate in this program as per the specifications published. PMSY is expected to significantly increase the demand of these inverters as the installation ramps up. Hybrid inverters will serve dual benefits for the customer- supply excess energy into the grid for availing net metering benefits and at the same time providing an option to store excess energy in localized storage systems.
Unlock Power and Performance with Infineon's Solutions for Designs Up to 6 kW
Infineon provides a diverse array of solutions tailored for single-phase hybrid inverters typically rated from a few kilowatts to 6 kW, offering the ideal balance of performance and cost-effectiveness. Our offerings include discrete IGBTs, MOSFETs, CoolSiC™ MOSFETs, and CoolSiC™ Schottky diodes, ensuring optimal price-to-performance ratios. Additionally, our portfolio encompasses essential components such as gate drivers, microcontrollers, sensors, and auxiliary power supplies, including the EiceDRIVER™ gate driver, XMC™ and PSoC™ microcontrollers, CoolSET™, TLI4971 current sensor, AIROC™ for seamless connectivity, and OPTIGA™ products for enhanced data protection and security.
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Responding to the increased demand for photovoltaic energy using string and hybrid inverters
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Discrete IGBTs
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32-bit XMC4000 Industrial Microcontroller Arm® Cortex®-M4
The XMC4000 product family integrates the Arm® Cortex®-M4 processor with built-in DSP, operating at speeds of up to 80MHz and offering a comprehensive array of analog/mixed signal, Timer/PWM, and communication peripherals.
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