Cree’s C2M™, 1200V, 80mOhm SiC MOSFETs have been selected by Sanix Corporation, Japan, to be designed into their new 9.9kW three-phase solar inverters for use in the construction of commercial PV systems in the fast-growing Japanese solar energy market.
“Cree’s silicon carbide MOSFETs were critical for Sanix to meet our efficiency and thermal design targets. SiC switches reduced losses in our inverter electronics by more than 30% versus the silicon super-junction MOSFETs we were considering,” said Hiroshi Soga, general manager, Sanix Incorporated. “In addition to providing a large efficiency gain, Cree’s latest generation C2M SiC MOSFETs were priced competitively, making it possible to replace lower voltage, less rugged, and less efficient silicon MOSFETs.”
Utilized in the primary power conversion stage of the solar inverter, Cree’s 1200V C2M0080120D MOSFETs feature faster switching characteristics and up to one-third the switching losses of comparably-rated 900V silicon super-junction MOSFETs. Therefore, Cree’s SiC MOSFETs enable lower total system energy losses, higher frequency switching, and cooler operating temperatures. These benefits improve conversion efficiency and reduce the system’s size, weight, complexity, and thermal management requirements. At the system level, performance is improved, cost is decreased, and lifetime of the inverter is extended.
Cree is currently delivering production volumes of SiC MOSFETs to Sanix and other PV inverter manufacturers, as well as to makers of industrial power supplies, auxiliary power converters, battery chargers, and motor drives.
(Photo Credit: Cree's Power Product Selector Guide)