Transphorm Teams with Yskawa for GaN-based High-Power Converter
Transphorm Inc. announced at this week’s ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit that its novel 600V Gallium Nitride (GaN) module has enabled the world’s first GaN-based high power converter. Transphorm demonstrated the product built with its customer-partner Yaskawa Electric at the APEC 2013 industry conference. Additional technical details as well as datasheets for Transphorm’s GaN-based devices are expected to be forthcoming at next month’s IEEE Applied Electronics Conference.
Yaskawa’s product, a 4.5kW PV power conditioner, is powered by Transphorm’s 600V GaN half-bridge modules, which have enabled it to achieve several industry firsts: The first high power converter product in the world utilizing GaN technology; The first efficient PV power conditioner to operate at 50KHz; And simultaneous achievement of a 40% reduction in inverter size and 98% efficiency operation, a form and function benefit uniquely enabled by Transphorm’s EZ-GaN module technology.
“The partnership between Yaskawa, the world leader in inverter solutions, and Transphorm, the world leader in GaN-based power conversion, has produced the world’s first high power GaN power converter,†said Umesh Mishra, CEO of Transphorm. “This is a disruptive first step which signals the broad adoption of GaN-based power conversion solutions.â€
“By teaming with Transphorm, Yaskawa is again the technology leader in introducing new technologies into the market place with tremendous benefits to customers and society†said Tatsuya Yamada , General Manager Environment & Energy Business Div. Drives Division of Yaskawa Electric.