Wolfspeed teams for 2300V SiC module
Wolfspeed has teamed up with EPC Power to use a 2300V silicon carbide (SiC) power module for large inverters
The 2300V baseplate-less SiC module for 1500V DC Bus applications use the Wolfspeed 200mm wafers. Wolfspeed also announced today that it is partnering with North American utility-scale inverter manufacturer EPC Power to use the module in utility-grade solar and energy storage systems.
The 2300V modules will improve system efficiency, while reducing the number of passive components. The 15% greater voltage headroom compared to similar silicon carbide modules improves dynamic performance with consistent temperature stability, and a substantial reduction in EMI filter size. The devices achieve a 77% reduction in switching losses over IGBTs and a 2-3x reduction in switching losses for silicon carbide devices intended for 1500V applications.
The 2300V silicon carbide modules will also allow system designers to use lower cost printed circuit boards to cut manufacturing costs and significantly reduce development time compared to legacy bus bar solutions. This also enables a two-level topology, resulting in simplified system design and reduced driver count compared to IGBT-based three-level configurations to easily scale power tenfold, from kilowatts to megawatts.
“The solar and energy storage market remains among the fastest-growing segments of the renewable energy industry. As the pioneers of silicon carbide, we are driven to create solutions that will open the door to a new era of modern energy,” said Jay Cameron, Wolfspeed Senior Vice President and General Manager, Power. “Energy efficiency, reliability, and scalability are top of mind for our customers, such as EPC Power, who recognize the substantial advantages Wolfspeed’s silicon carbide brings to the table.”
“Silicon carbide devices open the door to a step-change in inverter performance and reliability. With our commitment to extreme reliability, performance, and security in our new ‘M’ inverter while also forging a deep commercial relationship with key suppliers, Wolfspeed was the obvious choice,” said Devin Dilley, President and Chief Product Officer, EPC Power.
“This platform further validates our investments in 200mm wafer technology and production as the potential of silicon carbide continues to be recognized by industry leaders across all mission-critical applications,” said Cameron.
The 2300V SiC modules also boost the lifetime and durability of systems through an optimized Failure in Time rate for continuous 1500V DC operation and improved cosmic ray susceptibility compared to a 2000V design. When used in a two-level implementation, 2300V modules reduce the amount of potential single points of failure across the system.