[Editor's Note] Countries around the world are actively responding to climate change, and are actively working to reduce CO2 emissions and expand renewable energy. This trend is not limited to the national level, but is a common issue for all of humanity, and it is expected that related businesses will continue to grow in the future as an essential policy for reducing fossil fuels that are being depleted and for sustainable living. The importance of semiconductors is increasing even in this green energy industry. Power semiconductors are essential components for minimizing losses and maximizing performance at all stages of electric power energy, and power semiconductors play a significant role in miniaturizing renewable energy devices such as solar, wind, and hydrogen. Accordingly, this magazine has prepared a two-part series to examine the importance of semiconductors in green energy based on Infineon Technologies ' ' Energy Efficiency Technology '.

■ Control of all stages of the semiconductor and electrical energy chain

Semiconductorechnologies/?utm_source=e4ds&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=202205_ap_ko_c_cp.corporate.energy_efficiency&utm_content=article&utm_term=1" target="_blank">It is becoming the core of energy technology.

This is because semiconductor technology is essential for creating energy, effectively preserving and transmitting the created energy, and using it without waste.



Humanity has an exploding appetite for energy—a growing global population, billions of connected devices, and electrified mobility—but energy production comes at a cost: CO2 emissions.

Renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydrogen, known as green energy, are attracting attention for producing energy without emitting CO2. However, it is true that there is a high cost associated with the spread of green energy compared to fossil fuels.

Accordingly, properly designing and operating solar cells, wind turbines, and water electrolysis devices to obtain renewable energy is becoming as important as simply producing energy using solar or wind power.

To solve these problems, semiconductors areIt plays a static role.

Semiconductors convert direct current from solar cells and alternating current from wind power, and adjust them to meet the needs of the power grid.

It also helps to save and reserve electric energy by reducing losses wasted as heat during energy production and increasing the efficiency of power devices.

As a result, semiconductors are key to processing energy more intelligently and efficiently at every stage of the electrical energy chain – from energy generation to energy transmission and storage – and only semiconductor technology enables energy efficiency at all of these stages.




■ Wind power converter , the best power semiconductors are essential

In wind turbines, power semiconductors convert electricity into electrical power that connects the generator to the grid.

Additionally, wind turbine converters require top-quality power semiconductors because they control several essential functions apart from transmitting power.

Accordingly, power semiconductors play a key role in renewable energy generation.

In particular, wind turbine design must provide maximum availability to contribute to grid stability, which is the most important factor in wind converters.

It is no exaggeration to say that grid stability depends on power semiconductor devices that provide dynamic capabilities, superior functionality, and superior reliability.

For Infineon, the leading product in the wind power market in the coming years will provide the best power cycling capability and extend the life of the wind turbines.referral&utm_campaign=202205_ap_ko_c_cp.corporate.energy_efficiency&utm_content=article&utm_term=1" target="_blank">PrimePACK™ provides the optimal choice for most high-power inverters such as wind power generators.




■ Small and cheap solar inverter

Solar photovoltaic (PV) modules supply electricity in the form of direct current (DC). This needs to be converted to alternating current (AC) before it can be fed into the grid and consumed locally or transmitted to the point of use, requiring a solar inverter to convert DC to AC.

Additionally, combining solar panels with energy storage systems is one effective way to synchronize supply and demand, which requires efficient and reliable power semiconductors and inverter technologies to convert DC to AC and transmit power with minimal losses.

Depending on the implementation phase, inverters fall into the categories of microinverters, power optimizers, string inverters or central inverters.

Power semiconductors enable silicon carbide-based solar inverters to set efficiency standards for weight, volume and performance. This means making solar inverters much smaller and cheaper.

Solar inverters include: micro inverters, string inverters, central inverters, power optimization solutions, and energy storage systems.

Microinverters convert power from individual photovoltaic panels or multiple panels, and are typically rated at around 250 watts to 1,200 watts.




Solar power optimization solutions are used to convert variable DC voltage of PV panels into fixed DC voltage through DC-DC power optimizer. This step can also be called Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT).