EPE Association: EPE 2023 - PECTA-Session 2: Efficiency and ecological impacts of WBG appliances

EPE 2023 - PECTA-Session 2: Efficiency and ecological impacts of WBG appliances
You are here: EPE Documents > 01 - EPE & EPE ECCE Conference Proceedings > EPE 2023 ECCE Europe - Conference > EPE 2023 - PECTA-Session 2: Efficiency and ecological impacts of WBG appliances

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   Energy saving potential of WBG-commercial power converters in different applications
By Lucas B. SPEJO, Erik NONIS, Nicola SCHULZ, Renato MINAMISAWA [View]
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Abstract: This work estimates the yearly global energy savings potential of different power electronics applications featuring commercial wide bandgap (WBG)-based power converters. It is the first study analyzing real products in the market. We show that WBG-based products exhibit considerable energy-saving potential in all investigated applications. Further, because of the large annual increase of installed photovoltaic (PV) and electric vehicle (EV)-charger converters, we estimate future energy-saving potential.

   Identifying the potential of SiC technology for PV inverters
By Troy ESKILSON, Andreas JEHLE, Peter SCHMIDT, Markus MAKOSCHITZ, Franz BAUMGARTNER [View]
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Abstract: Silicon Carbide (SiC) devices offer energy efficiency improvements over conventional silicon (Si) semiconductors. Through measurements and simulation results, this paper intends to quantify this efficiency improvement in a typical photovoltaic (PV) application. This allows designers and policy makers to better understand the benefits of SiC, enabling more informed decisions.

   Looking beyond energy efficiency - Environmental aspects and impacts of WBG devices and applications over their life cycle
By Sebastian GLASER, Philipp FEUCHTER, A. DIAZ [View]
[Download]

Abstract: The environmental aspects and impacts of wide bandgap (WBG) materials such as Silicon Carbide (SiC) and Gallium Nitride (GaN) in specific end-use electronic applications and products have not yetbeen fully investigated. The design trade-offs and comparison of WBG with classic Silicon based technology for the same applications, with a life cycle thinking perspective, are only starting to emerge. In general, policy-makers are unaware of the impacts and benefits of WBG semiconductor devices, and governments normally have limited access to independent and well-founded expertise inthis field. Therefore, it is challenging for policymakers to foresee and evaluate the future impacts and benefits of this technology. With increased knowledge and evidence it will be possible to consider appropriate policy responses. This PECTA research is following a life cycle thinking perspective, which covers three relevant life cycle stages of WBG technology 1) the raw material supply and manufacturing of WBG components; 2) the design effects of WBG on applications and their use, and 3) the End of life (EoL) of WBG semiconductor devices, specially looking at fate, and availability (or criticality) of SiC and GaN. The different elements of the research methodology and selected results, especially considering the energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), are discussed along these three relevant life cycle stages. Some additional information on impacts e.g., in the distributionphase are also included. Supporting the development towards a circular economy, recommendations for policy-makers are presented. Results from this PECTA research are also more extensively documented in recent publications.

   Measurement of WBG-based power supplies
By Hongkeng ZHU, Armin JAFARI, Katharina MACHTINGER, Markus MAKOSCHITZ, Elison MATIOLI [View]
[Download]

Abstract: This paper discusses different measurement methods to evaluate the efficiency of WBG-based power supply solutions, including electrical measurement methods and their verification with calorimetric methods, and compares the performance of Si-based and GaN-based chargers. The efficiency of chargers was measured at different load conditions, and it was observed that the maximum efficiency occurred generally at higher powers. GaN-based solutions outperformed Si-based chargers at higher power levels, leading to significant energy savings. The paper suggests that regulations for efficiency can be tighten and different voltage modes shall be included to ensure further energy savings. Thebenefits of using WBG devices are more evident in terms of power density, which could lead totheir wider adoption in other power electronic applications.

EPE 2023 - PECTA-Session 2: Efficiency and ecological impacts of WBG appliances
You are here: EPE Documents > 01 - EPE & EPE ECCE Conference Proceedings > EPE 2023 ECCE Europe - Conference > EPE 2023 - PECTA-Session 2: Efficiency and ecological impacts of WBG appliances
	[return to parent folder]

	Energy saving potential of WBG-commercial power converters in different applications By Lucas B. SPEJO, Erik NONIS, Nicola SCHULZ, Renato MINAMISAWA	[View] [Download]
Abstract: This work estimates the yearly global energy savings potential of different power electronics applications featuring commercial wide bandgap (WBG)-based power converters. It is the first study analyzing real products in the market. We show that WBG-based products exhibit considerable energy-saving potential in all investigated applications. Further, because of the large annual increase of installed photovoltaic (PV) and electric vehicle (EV)-charger converters, we estimate future energy-saving potential.

	Identifying the potential of SiC technology for PV inverters By Troy ESKILSON, Andreas JEHLE, Peter SCHMIDT, Markus MAKOSCHITZ, Franz BAUMGARTNER	[View] [Download]
Abstract: Silicon Carbide (SiC) devices offer energy efficiency improvements over conventional silicon (Si) semiconductors. Through measurements and simulation results, this paper intends to quantify this efficiency improvement in a typical photovoltaic (PV) application. This allows designers and policy makers to better understand the benefits of SiC, enabling more informed decisions.

	Looking beyond energy efficiency - Environmental aspects and impacts of WBG devices and applications over their life cycle By Sebastian GLASER, Philipp FEUCHTER, A. DIAZ	[View] [Download]
Abstract: The environmental aspects and impacts of wide bandgap (WBG) materials such as Silicon Carbide (SiC) and Gallium Nitride (GaN) in specific end-use electronic applications and products have not yetbeen fully investigated. The design trade-offs and comparison of WBG with classic Silicon based technology for the same applications, with a life cycle thinking perspective, are only starting to emerge. In general, policy-makers are unaware of the impacts and benefits of WBG semiconductor devices, and governments normally have limited access to independent and well-founded expertise inthis field. Therefore, it is challenging for policymakers to foresee and evaluate the future impacts and benefits of this technology. With increased knowledge and evidence it will be possible to consider appropriate policy responses. This PECTA research is following a life cycle thinking perspective, which covers three relevant life cycle stages of WBG technology 1) the raw material supply and manufacturing of WBG components; 2) the design effects of WBG on applications and their use, and 3) the End of life (EoL) of WBG semiconductor devices, specially looking at fate, and availability (or criticality) of SiC and GaN. The different elements of the research methodology and selected results, especially considering the energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), are discussed along these three relevant life cycle stages. Some additional information on impacts e.g., in the distributionphase are also included. Supporting the development towards a circular economy, recommendations for policy-makers are presented. Results from this PECTA research are also more extensively documented in recent publications.

	Measurement of WBG-based power supplies By Hongkeng ZHU, Armin JAFARI, Katharina MACHTINGER, Markus MAKOSCHITZ, Elison MATIOLI	[View] [Download]
Abstract: This paper discusses different measurement methods to evaluate the efficiency of WBG-based power supply solutions, including electrical measurement methods and their verification with calorimetric methods, and compares the performance of Si-based and GaN-based chargers. The efficiency of chargers was measured at different load conditions, and it was observed that the maximum efficiency occurred generally at higher powers. GaN-based solutions outperformed Si-based chargers at higher power levels, leading to significant energy savings. The paper suggests that regulations for efficiency can be tighten and different voltage modes shall be included to ensure further energy savings. Thebenefits of using WBG devices are more evident in terms of power density, which could lead totheir wider adoption in other power electronic applications.