Solar Power Micro-Inverters

Solar micro-inverters are small devices installed on each solar panel that immediately convert DC current to AC. Power losses are minimized and efficiency is improved since each panel directly connects to the main AC grid; also, each panel does not affect the performance of the other panels. This approach makes system expansion easier since modular panel/inverter assemblies can easily be added to existing wiring and don’t require sophisticated installation. 

Silicon Labs' digital isolators, ISOdrivers,  AC current sensors and analog-intensive MCUs provide the best overall solution for reliability, safety, cost, flexibility and precision processing in solar micro-inverter applications.


Silicon Labs' Solutions for Solar Power Micro-Inverters


Silicon Labs Solutions   Customer Benefits

Reliability: Using CMOS, the most widely available technology in the industry, Silicon Labs' isolation family does not exhibit aging effects or wear out mechanisms and has the industry's best mean time to failure rating.

Modern micro-inverters offer a 25+ year lifetime, matching or exceeding the PV panel, while traditional central inverters for solar panels only last 5 to 15 years, a significant value proposition.

Safety:  Both 2.5 kV and 5.0 kV isolation ratings, best-in-class ESD and EMI performance and certification reports from CSA, UL and VDE enable global platform development.

Safety certified components enable low-cost installation that meets regulatory standards.

Cost and Flexibility: Unsurpassed integration with limited external BOM components needed. A diverse portfolio with many ordering options including I²C, 6-channel isolators, and ISOdrivers.

In an effort to reach cost parity with the traditional power grid, solar micro-inverter firms need to keep manufacturing costs low and design systems in innovative new ways.

Precision Processing: Industry's smallest footprint MCUs that include up to 100 MIPS CPU, 12-bit ADC, 12-bit DACs and other vital analog peripherals such as integrated precision oscillator (±2%). Cost-sensitive pin-compatible OTP options are also available.

Micro-inverter systems require precision mixed-signal MCUs with high compute power.

 

 

 

Learn why digital isolators enable the replacement of optocouplers

 

 

 
 

 

See how CMOS technology enables smaller, faster, more reliable system isolation than optocouplers

 

 

 

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