Reducing the cost per Watt of renewable PV energy
STMicroelectronics has introduced its latest-generation high-efficiency cool bypass-switch family for photovoltaic modules, enabling an even higher percentage of harvested energy to reach end users further reducing the cost per Watt of renewable energy. Boasting the industry's smallest dimensions, ST's bypass devices can be integrated directly in the photovoltaic module, reducing both installation complexity and cost for consumers. ST's bypass devices combine efficient power switching and intelligent control in a single chip to compensate for the variable effects of hotspots and shadows on the solar panel surface. The new devices can save up to 1% of the energy produced and normally lost through conventional bypass diodes. In a 1 MWp solar array farm this loss could provide the total annual electricity consumption of two average European households. ST latest cool bypass devices feature new technology and control techniques that minimize energy losses in all operating modes, by ensuring the integrated power switch has ultra-low leakage current when turned off and very low voltage drop when turned on. Thanks to the reduced power losses, a further advantage of these devices is a reduction in typical operating temperature, leading to increased reliability and longer lifetime. Solar installations can achieve a lifespan of 25 years using this device. The SPV1512 and SPV1520 cool bypass switches are rated for operation up to 12 V and 20 V respectively. Other voltage options (up to 120 V) will be introduced in late 2012 and early 2013 in industry-standard D2PAK and TO-220AC packages. The SPV1512 is available in an extremely small 5 x 6 x 0.75 mm VFQFPN package, which enables the bypass circuitry to be laminated on the back of each solar panel. This simplifies design and installation by eliminating large numbers of junction boxes and interconnects, and can reduce the cost of each panel by around 5%. STMicroelectronics
