CoolGaN at the core of BRC Solar's Power Optimizer
German solar company BRC Solar has selected Infineon's CoolGaN transistor 100V devices as the core switching technology for its Power Optimizer. According to Infineon, these compact 3 mm x 5 mm GaN chips enable panel-level maximum power-point tracking (MPPT) with the highest efficiency and power density available in this class of solar application.
"The adoption of CoolGaN technology from Infineon in BRC Solar's Power Optimizers demonstrates the tangible impact that GaN switching performance can deliver in real-world renewable energy systems,” says Johannes Schoiswohl, SVP and general manager GaN Business Line at Infineon.
“By enabling higher efficiency, greater power density, and cloud-based performance monitoring in the same compact form factor, CoolGaN helps solar system designers push the boundaries of what is achievable in rooftop solar applications and brings meaningful benefits to end users and the environment alike.”
Rooftop solar installations face a fundamental efficiency challenge: when MPPT is implemented at the string level, partial shading of a single panel reduces the output of the entire string. The CoolGaN Transistor 100 V family addresses this directly by enabling cost-effective panel-level MPPT optimisation, eliminating the performance drag of the weakest panel and maximising energy yield across the full installation.
"Since its founding, BRC Solar has recognised the transformative potential of GaN technology for achieving best-in-class performance in solar power optimizers," says Pascal Ruisinger, CFO at BRC Solar GmbH. "Infineon and BRC Solar share the same vision: to leverage state-of-the-art technologies such as CoolGaN to benefit the environment and society by delivering optimised green energy through feature-rich and affordable products.”
