Solar String Inverters

BREK Electronics has redesigned grid-tied Solar String Inverters using novel composite architecture optimized for Silicon Carbide (SiC) components. This enables industry leading 4 x power density in a lighter and more compact system.

Silicon Carbide is 300X better at thermal conductivity vs traditional silicon, which lowers the operating temperatures, leading to fewer failures. Lab tests showed a 10X improvement in the mean time to failure vs conventional silicon.

Silicon Carbide can withstand higher temperatures and handle more energy than silicon. These benefits are paving the way for Silicon Carbide to ultimately slash the cost of solar string inverters.

Why Use a BREK Inverter?

4x Power Density

At 4 kW/kg, BREK’s inverters deliver more power in a lighter, more compact system than other  string inverters.

Longer inverter life

Lab tests showed an improvement in the mean time to failure vs conventional silicon, projected to last 2X longer than current models

40% lower maintenance costs

40% lower capital and operations
costs projected over the life
of the inverter

Power curtailment functions

Power curtailment functions built are into our inverter control firmware for active grid monitoring.

Automated Manufacturing

BREK uses lightweight planar magnetics and ceramic capacitors, enabling automated manufacturing leading to lower cost per watt.

HOW WE BECAME A LEADER IN
SILICON CARBIDE POWER ELECTRONICS

Our unique approach is built upon the research of our CTO, Prof. Robert Erickson, at the Colorado Power Electronics Center at the University of Colorado-Boulder. He has received over $4.4M in funding from the Department of Energy for SiC power electronics research. The direct replacement of silicon devices with Silicon Carbide components only leads to incremental improvements – it does not reduce the size or weight. That’s why BREK has redesigned the inverter from the ground up using composite architecture optimized for Silicon Carbide.

What’s different about BREK’s Silicon Carbide Inverters

circuit

A revolutionary new circuit design incorporating planar magnetics and ceramic capacitors - all designed for automated assembly

200 kW inverters with one Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) zone at significantly reduced size or 400 kW inverter with 2 MPPT zones

green-energy
capacitor

Order of magnitude reduction in capacitor size​

Failure rate improvements in inverter architecture and associated capacitor currents

electric-current
processor

Significant reduction in system loss through fundamental improvements in inverter architecture

Modular, scalable system design expandable from 200 kW to multi-MW scale.

inverter
price-down

Fundamentally new technology enables lower cost per watt

Grid tied solar string inverters with Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) interface coming soon

inverter

The Advantages of BREK's Solar String Inverters

40% reduction of Capital and Operation expenses
0 %
Reduction in Lifetime Operating & Maintenance Costs
0 %
Power Density Compared to Today’s Models
0 %

Customer Quotes

“[Brek’s] technology aligns with improvements the commercial solar industry would value. String inverters represent a significant, and ever growing percentage of the equipment deployed on projects across the country. The proposed reduction in inverter form factor and weight along with increased power and heat dissipation would add value to any inverter, and distinguish a given manufacturer over what is currently available in the market.”

Christopher Thomas

Lead Project Engineer, AES Distributed Energy