Performance and Techno-Economic Evaluation of a Three-Phase, 50-kW SiC-Based PV Inverter
The technical capabilities and benefits of silicon carbide (SiC) compared to silicon (Si) based power electronics converters as well as the premium associated with using SiC instead of Si are well understood. This work proves that the benefits provided by SiC, such as increased efficiency, would result in a lower levelized cost of energy (LCOE) compared to both commercially available, state-of-the-art inverters and the benchmark commercial system cost calculated for the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office's SunShot program. The LCOE is calculated to be same as the commercial benchmark despite the installed system cost being 8% more than the benchmark. The LCOE calculation is based on both experiential values obtained from testing the SiC photovoltaic (PV) inverter and on the bottoms-up modeled volume cost for the same 50-kW SiC-based inverter. The PV system used for the LCOE model is also explained, and the system cost breakout is presented in this paper. Further, multiple scenarios with variations in the PV system are presented to show their effect on the system LCOE.
- Research Organization:
- National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Solar Energy Technologies Office
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC36-08GO28308
- OSTI ID:
- 1557550
- Report Number(s):
- NREL/CP-5D00-73124
- Journal Information:
- Conference Record of the IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, Vol. 2019; Conference: Presented at the 46th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC 46), Chicago, IL (United States), 16-21 Jun 2019; ISSN 0160-8371
- Publisher:
- IEEE
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Development and Validation of a SiC Based 50 kW Grid-Connected PV Inverter
Modular, Multifunction, Multiport and Medium Voltage Utility Scale SiC PV Inverter (Final Report)