ON Semi's Hybrid Power Integration Module (PIM) is being applied to Sinung Electric's next-generation Energy Storage Systems (ESS) and solar inverters. The key to this application is to achieve higher output and power density under the same installation conditions by enhancing power conversion efficiency and thermal management performance.

ON Semi announced on April 1 that its PIM will be installed in Sineng Electric's 430kW liquid-cooled string ESS and 320kW utility-class solar inverter platform. As efficiency and long-term reliability are considered critical evaluation factors in renewable energy facilities, this collaboration is focused on improving the performance of large-scale power conversion equipment.

The applied module features a Si·SiC hybrid structure combining ON Semi's Field Stop 7 (FS7) insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) and EliteSiC diode. According to ON Semi, the new module increases power density by 32% and improves efficiency by up to 0.1% in the same form factor as the previous generation. Based on this, the total system output of the solar inverter can be expanded from the existing 320kW to a maximum of 350kW.

The performance improvement is driven by reduced losses and heat generation. This module is designed to reduce power loss by up to 8% and switching loss by 10% compared to the previous generation, and heatsink thermal resistance has been lowered by 9.3% through improvements to the DBC substrate and baseplate structure. In power semiconductors, losses and heat are factors that directly affect system efficiency and equipment lifespan.

System-level improvements were also demonstrated in the ESS. Based on Sinung Electric's 430kW string ESS, benchmark tests showed a 0.75% increase in Round-Trip Efficiency (RTE) and a 5% reduction in auxiliary power consumption. The company explained that as power density increases, the number of required modules can be reduced, leading to expectations of component cost savings. Another feature highlighted was enhanced reliability achieved by lowering operating temperatures in high-load environments.

For renewable energy facility operators, it is crucial to process more power within limited space and lower operating costs. This application is significant in that it utilizes technology to boost output and efficiency without significantly altering the size of the facility. As the solar inverter and ESS markets expand, the impact of performance competition among power semiconductor modules on the overall economic viability and stability of the system is expected to grow even larger.