Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SiC4GRID (NEXT GENERATION MODULAR SIC-BASED ADVANCED POWER ELECTRONICS CONVERTERS FOR ENHANCED RENEWABLES INTEGRATION INTO THE GRID)
Reporting period: 2022-10-01 to 2023-11-30
SiC4GRID aims at tackling current obstacles to the SiC technologies' market uptake, addressing both techno-economic and environmental pillars. The consortium will design, produce, test and validate an integrated product composed of a 30% smaller size energy-efficient SiC-based power module. An integrated modular converter will be tested on a physical test bench, as well as digitally to increase the variety of relevant applications and real-condition scenario, considering both wind and solar applications with storage. Overall, the project contributes to advancing the market readiness of the technology by lowering its cost, its size, and increasing its lifetime and its environmental impact.
WP1: This WP defined use-case scenarios for SiC-based modules in renewable generation, set specifications across work packages, formulated KPIs for technical and economic assessments, and introduced sensitivity analyses. It structured work phases from chip to system level, outlined an IoT architecture, and presented validation programs, including Digital Twin modeling validation via experimental data from power modules, gate-drivers, single cells, and MMC system tests.
WP2: Low- to medium-fidelity modelling of the SiC-based modules and different converters (MMC, SST) has been performed for the different use cases (defined in WP1). This included thermal and losses modelling to estimate the converter lifetime and efficiency under different use cases. This has been used to develop the design optimization framework for the different use cases. The SiC modules and converter topologies have been optimized with regard to cost, lifetime and efficiency based on parameters collected from the partners. Finalization of D2.1 and D2.3 is ongoing (submission delayed to M15).
WP3: Smarts substrates were received by HE in March 2023, as well as Gen I SmartSiC epi wafers with defect maps were delivered in August 2023 to HE. 10 SmartSiC wafers were started in October 2023. HE started to design, and process SiC MOSFET devices on 4H SiC wafers, first MOSFETs were tested and assembled the first substrates. HE and CSEM did a first trial with AlOx. AMTS has defined the requirements of the gate drive and provided a first layout of the gate drive as well as simulated the dual gate drive prototype as well as the feasibility study.
WP4: As planned, WP4 has not yet started and no results have been achieved so far.
WP5: As WP 5 has not yet started in accordance with the project plan, there are no technical achievements to document at this stage.
WP6: No activity in this WP for this period. The actions will begin at Month 22 of the project.
WP7: Communication and exploitation activities will be mentioned in another section.
WP8: Project and technical coordination have ensured progression of the project. Bi-annual internal reporting has been implemented. Materialized risks have been handled promptly and proper mitigation measures have been implemented to ensure viability of the project. Deliverables 8.1 8.2 8.3 and 8.4 have been submitted.
WP2: Low- to medium-fidelity modelling of the SiC-based modules and different converters (MMC, SST) has been performed for the different use cases (defined in WP1). This included thermal and losses modelling to estimate the converter lifetime and efficiency under different use cases. This has been used to develop the design optimization framework for the different use cases. The SiC modules and converter topologies have been optimized with regard to cost, lifetime and efficiency based on parameters collected from the partners. Finalization of D2.1 and D2.3 is ongoing (submission delayed to M15).
WP3: Smarts substrates were received by HE in March 2023, as well as Gen I SmartSiC epi wafers with defect maps were delivered in August 2023 to HE. 10 SmartSiC wafers were started in October 2023. HE started to design, and process SiC MOSFET devices on 4H SiC wafers, first MOSFETs were tested and assembled the first substrates. HE and CSEM did a first trial with AlOx. AMTS has defined the requirements of the gate drive and provided a first layout of the gate drive as well as simulated the dual gate drive prototype as well as the feasibility study.
WP4: As planned, WP4 has not yet started and no results have been achieved so far.
WP5: As WP 5 has not yet started in accordance with the project plan, there are no technical achievements to document at this stage.
WP6: No activity in this WP for this period. The actions will begin at Month 22 of the project.
WP7: Communication and exploitation activities will be mentioned in another section.
WP8: Project and technical coordination have ensured progression of the project. Bi-annual internal reporting has been implemented. Materialized risks have been handled promptly and proper mitigation measures have been implemented to ensure viability of the project. Deliverables 8.1 8.2 8.3 and 8.4 have been submitted.
WP1 has mainly set the baseline for the SiC4GRID project and has defined the MVDC PV and Wind use cases beyond the state of the art.
WP2: Design optimization tool for wind and PV converter applications, which considers lifetime, cost and efficiency of the system. This tool will be used for further developing VUB’s research activities. Further development of the user interface is needed for external usage, as well as feedback from external stakeholders.
WP2: Design optimization tool for wind and PV converter applications, which considers lifetime, cost and efficiency of the system. This tool will be used for further developing VUB’s research activities. Further development of the user interface is needed for external usage, as well as feedback from external stakeholders.