Page 38 - PEN Ebook March 2021
P. 38
Smart Energy Smart Energy
Based on an analysis by Hochschule für Technik sonnen, a global market leader in smart residen-
und Wirtschaft Berlin (HTW), it was determined tial energy storage and virtual power plants, also
that 60% of system loss can be attributed to validated the benefits of GaN in a presentation
power conversion loss, which brings a big oppor- last year at a power conference in the US. The
tunity to energy savings, cost savings and reve- paper found that GaN Systems technology con-
nue generating opportunities. firmed a 4% round trip efficiency increase, better
efficiencies at low and high power, 8% BoM cost
savings and a 30% smaller system. Other notable
THIS IS WHERE GALLIUM benefits include lower costs in shipping, trans-
NITRIDE (GAN) POWER portation, installation, and being able to use a
SEMICONDUCTORS COME IN. smaller installation crew because the system
With GaN transistors used in those power con- weighs less.
versions (DC/DC converters and inverters), there
is a huge potential for efficiency increases. While the future of renewable energy stor-
Whereas, without GaN, multiple power conversa- age looks bright with major achievements and
tion steps created power loss, every watt wasted breakthroughs in residential markets, there is
as heat would result in money lost and given that overwhelming evidence to suggest GaN power
the power conversions were bidirectional, the semiconductors will elevate its success fur-
losses were double. ther and accelerate market adoption by bringing
higher energy efficiency, increased performance,
Overall benefits with GaN from an efficiency lower costs and a smaller form factor to battery
standpoint, include higher efficiency, especially in power. Given its success and deep traction into
Figure 3: Storage Perfomance. light load operation and 2X loss savings for bidi- major market segments, proven validation of its
Furthermore, we also expect to see a 5X increase of this leadership. The country installed 65,000 rectional power conversion. From an infrastruc- benefits in performance, energy efficiency and
in the share of behind-the -meter batteries glob- new battery storage solutions in 2019 - an in- ture standpoint, it’s more grid friendly and offers economics by the Berlin University of Technology
ally in 2050. All the trends pointing in the right crease of 44% over the previous year. Cumula- a high-power factor and better THD. GaN also and Economics and HTW (to name a few), and its
direction and encouraging signs towards a better tive energy storage installations doubled within gives you lower system cost because of efficien- continued growth, GaN represents the industry’s
tomorrow. the last two years. Leading companies involved cy - with savings on cooling, reduced system size best and most realistic hope for enabling the re-
in this undertaking include sonnen, BYD, e3/DC, and battery size. Based on these benefits, GaN newable energy industry to reach its lofty poten-
Energy storage makes sense in all segments: util- Senec, LG Chem, and Tesla. may be an unsung hero within the rapidly evolv- tial and save the planet.
ity, commercial and industrial as well as residen- ing renewable energy industry.
tial. For the purpose of this paper, let’s focus on While a very encouraging sign, the RES industry
residential energy storage (RES). still needed to gain higher energy efficiency and
performance to improve the economic models.
So far, the adoption of residential energy stor- For More Information
age has been very promising with market growth That takes us to the Berlin University of Technology
reaching 26.59 billion in just four years. While and Economics, where they’ve developed a system ▶ (ES3) Economics and the Challenge of Renewable Energy Storage – A Small Change
many countries throughout the world are dou- of scoring difference systems along a particular
bling down their commitment to the environment performance index. With an “ideal” target of 100%, that Can Revolutionize the Industry, Paul Wiener – Talk at Power Forum
and taking tremendous steps in their renewable systems are scored to a specific performance index
energy efforts, some are even more bullish on where they look at systems at different battery ca- ▶ GaN Systems
the adoption of RES. Germany is a prime example pacities and correlate that to cost savings.
38 MARCH 2021 | www.powerelectronicsnews.com MARCH 2021 | www.powerelectronicsnews.com 39
