Project description
Smart solar inverters enabling renewable energy integration into the grid
Integrating solar and wind energy into the electricity grid is essential for a cleaner and more diversified energy system. But this requires a move towards more intelligent and resilient power electronics, which are needed to integrate solar energy efficiently while maintaining grid stability and reliability. With this in mind, the EU-funded IN.SPIRE project is developing next-generation hybrid solar inverter platforms for low- and medium-voltage applications. It uses advanced technologies such as digital twins, wide-bandgap semiconductors, and AI-enabled monitoring and control to optimise the integration of photovoltaic systems, battery storage and the electricity grid. The goal is to deliver highly efficient, flexible and secure inverter solutions that support Europe’s clean energy transition.
Objective
INSPIRE redefines the role of the solar inverter as the intelligent backbone of future PV systems. It develops two complementary inverter platforms, one at low voltage and one at medium voltage, that together cover commercial, industrial, and utility-scale needs. Both are designed as hybrid, modular systems that orchestrate PV, storage, and grid interaction in a flexible way. The medium-voltage design introduces a 3 kV DC link with wide-bandgap semiconductors to achieve unprecedented power density and reduced balance-of-system costs, while the low-voltage design extends modular hybrid operation across PV, battery, and AC ports.
A unifying methodology couples multi-objective optimisation with digital twins, ensuring that new components and controls are systematically steered from early-stage design through to grid-connected prototypes. Innovations include partial-power converter topologies, advanced EMI/EMC filtering with active noise cancellation, sensor-enabled gate drivers for real-time health monitoring, and grid-forming firmware that aligns with emerging European codes. Reliability is addressed by stress-aware operation and thermal management, while cyber-physical safety is enhanced through “reflex” functions that safeguard hardware and grid stability when receiving remote commands.
Beyond the component level, INSPIRE integrates inverter-aware predictive maintenance and yield forecasting into plant-level analytics, creating a holistic picture of performance and reliability. Validation spans hardware-in-the-loop testing, accredited medium-voltage laboratories, and field demonstration under real grid conditions.
By delivering TRL 6–7 prototypes, validated design and modelling tools, interoperable communication frameworks, and cybersecurity measures ready for standardisation, INSPIRE provides tangible advances in efficiency, flexibility, and resilience. It contributes directly to Europe’s strategic objectives of secure, sustainable, and circular PV integration.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electrical engineering power engineering electric power distribution
- natural sciences physical sciences electromagnetism and electronics semiconductivity
- natural sciences computer and information sciences computer security
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels renewable energy solar energy photovoltaic
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.2.5 - Climate, Energy and Mobility
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-IA - HORIZON Innovation Actions
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-CL5-2025-02
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
3050 Oud-Heverlee
Belgium
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.