Yaskawa Electric uses GaN power semiconductors for residential photovoltaic inverters for the first time, reducing the installation area by half

Yaskawa Electric Corporation announced on December 11 that it will begin selling residential indoor photovoltaic inverters (PCS) equipped with GaN (gallium nitride) power semiconductor modules. This is the first time in the world that GaN power semiconductors are used in PCS for photovoltaic power generation, and it has achieved the world's smallest size at this level. It is planned to sell 34,000 units per year.

The product launched this time is the residential indoor PCS "Enewell-SOLV1 series 4.5kW" (200V single layer), which will be available from January 2015. GaN can reduce power loss (switching loss) compared to Si (silicon) and can achieve higher temperature and higher speed operation than Si, so the size of the entire system can be reduced. It and SiC (silicon carbide) as a new generation of semiconductor components, application development has made progress.

The company announced that it has reduced the installation area of ​​the new product to about half of the previous product, which can significantly save space. The maximum conversion efficiency is 98%, and since the efficiency can be quickly improved from low output, the power generation per day can be maximized. The use of high-frequency switching beyond the audible range of the human ear eliminates harsh high-frequency sound waves (buzzing). In addition, the fanless natural air cooling method eliminates the fan sound and achieves high quietness.