Cost-Effective Multi-Port Solar Power Conversion Unit based on Wide Bandgap Devices and Planar Magnetics

Statement of the problem To date, integrating residential rooftop solar system with energy storage is still expensive and complex to be achieved. Multiple power conversion and isolation units lead to significant capital and space required for US homeowners. Rising adoption of electric vehicles presents a cost-effective form of energy storage for residential households, but there have been very few examples of its utilization within rooftop solar systems. Objectives AmpX Technologies, Inc. (ôAmpXö) is proposing a compact and low-cost integrated multi-port power electronics system for residential households acquiring rooftop solar systems, based on wide bandgap devices. AmpXĺs ôone boxö solution will be the only power conversion unit of choice for any residential and in future commercial buildings. AmpXĺs ôone boxö unit will interface all the major uni- and/or bi-directional sources and loads of a household, including solar panels, energy storage system and electric vehicle. It will exploit the storage of electric vehicles more effectively and support home load and grid application as well. Phase I Tasks This Phase I proposal will be targeted on the design of a minimal viable product at 5kW grid facing power. Main R&D tasks include: Defining new operation modes to better match solar, storage, grid and electric vehicle charging with demand, while maintaining high efficiencies; Development of a consistent numerical analysis model and a circuit simulation platform; Proposing a novel power management strategy and optimization method to determine design parameters as well as control variables; Development of circuit schematics and layout as well as thermal simulation and enclosure design. Detailed Bill of Material cost breakdown will be summarized and compared with the state of the art. Commercial Applications The technology from this proposal could be an essential factor to meet the goal of reaching a highly integrated, low-cost, and dispatchable system for distributed energy resources such as solar. After further development and commercialization in the next phases, AmpX will firstly introduce the proposed multi-port power conversion system into consumer residential rooftop solar market with much less cost and space required, integrating electric vehicles and grid applications, and enhancing household resilience on energy automation and flexibility. This could help increase solar adoption rate in the nation, especially in under-resourced communities, to help fulfill DoEĺs envision covered in the ôDecarb+Eö scenario and keep the US at the forefront of global decarbonization. In addition, it will enhance more electric vehicle utilization in future buildings and accelerate electric vehicle sales at the same time.