Low-cost high frequency inverter for utility scale PV

Utility scale solar is an important part of any plan to decarbonize the grid and any cost reductions help reduce the cost of this movement. Further, if the United States is going to capitalize on this transition it is important to have domestic design and manufacturing of solar components. This program will develop a Solar String Inverter that is lower cost and designed and manufactured in the United States of America directly supporting the Department of Energy SunShot 2030 goals. This phase I program will design this Solar String Inverter and demonstrate the merits of the technology. This program will use very high frequency switching to reduce the size of the passive components. To accomplish this, significant computing horsepower is required, but this is now affordable with low-cost microprocessors available. This approach will also be implemented in such a way that it can be produced at low cost in the United States. This product developed through the different phases of this DOE program will be able to directly help disadvantaged communities through making utility scale solar more affordable helping the rural communities it is installed in. Further this project will help the company grow through designing and building this solution.