ROHM and SIMLIFE improves renewable energy utilisation

ROHM Semiconductor India (RSI) a subsidiary of ROHM Kyoto has signed up with SIMLIFE Electric to improve renewable energy utilisation through GAN2000, India’s first hybrid battery backed grid-tie solar power generation system.

Designed, developed and manufactured in India, GAN2000 works in Indian grid condition and has a built-in redundancy with double DSP, dual sensors and relays with high reliability.

ROHM Semiconductor India (RSI), a subsidiary of ROHM Kyoto, has also announced an array of power solutions like SiC, IGBT, and gate drivers, for improving the power conversion efficiency. These products are intended to meet the harsh condition of India’s rapidly growing power infrastructure.

Daisuke Nakamura, Managing Director, Rohm Semiconductor India said, “Silicon Carbide power devices with trench structure that leverage industry-leading technology is a product which will be able to contribute ‘affordable renewable energy’. It would help not only the improvement of energy conversion but also the implementation of smaller and stronger in renewable energy application like a solar inverter or high input voltage power supply.”

According to the National Electricity Plan drafted by the Central Electric Authority, the country will see a rapid increase in non-fossil fuels based renewable energy, like nuclear or hydroelectric power to 56.5% by 2027. This will serve to decrease the country’s reliance on fossil fuels while establishing renewable energy as a viable new source for the future, while clamping on the trade deficit owing to the import of oil and coal.

India is 3rd in the world in terms of adding solar capacity in the world and has set a target of 100 GW by 2022 showing a CAGR of 41 per cent. Of this roof top solar market is 40 per cent of total demand and both ROHM India and SIMLIFE Electric is planning to encash on this opportunity.

RSI is working towards maximizing the energy harvested by controlling the power loss during all the power stages of conversion like conditioning, inversion etc. For example, as much as 30% of the electric energy is lost in the process of generation, transmission and distribution. This loss along with the loses in power conversion is believed to exceed 35%.

In response, RSI proposes power solutions centered on cutting-edge SiC power devices that achieve higher efficiency in the power conversion. The trench SiC-based inverters can reduce power loss by as much as ~2% compared to the conventional devices like IGBT, Si MOSFET etc., while contributing towards miniaturization owing to reduced heat dissipation.

ROHM India also provides quick local support for designing systems using technologies is available from experienced application engineering team in Bangalore.