Topics

From 1 to 500kW

Our expertise covers:

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• DC<>DC converters

• (isolated and non-isolated)

• AC<>DC inverters and AC>DC converters

• AC<>AC inverters​

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This includes every aspect of power electronics: sensing, switching, filtering, magnetics, safety, open and closed control loops, data transfer, system control, error and event handling, data storage, and more.

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These elements remain the foundation of high-quality power electronics. At SiGaN, we address each area meticulously, pre-defining hardware and software sub-blocks and modules. This approach enables us to deliver reliable, cost-effective solutions for OEM projects—streamlining engineering, product design, and manufacturing.

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Grid forming

Grid forming, also known as voltage sine-wave control, is a technique used to generate an ideal voltage sine wave in island mode and to automatically correct, to some extent, the grid’s voltage sine wave. This helps minimize the negative effects caused by current-controlled inputs and connected devices.

From a practical standpoint, implementing grid forming inverters at grid level 7 enhances overall grid stability. It also reduces the strain and need for adjustments at the grid transformer on grid level 6—all without additional cost.

As a result, grid forming technology is poised to become a valuable asset for grid operators. With widespread adoption, it will play a crucial role in preventing blackouts caused by voltage sine wave deviations that can lead to automatic shutdowns.

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High speed

bi-directionality

The ability for converters to operate bidirectionally—handling both DC<>DC and AC<>DC flows—significantly expands the range of potential applications for a product.

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Many modern solutions are moving in this direction to maximise versatility.

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Integrating rapid power adjustment and precise control into these bidirectional converters not only improves their response time but also unlocks new features and connectivity options.

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For example, a high-speed DC-to-DC converter primarily designed for photovoltaic (PV) input could also accommodate more dynamic energy sources, such as micro wind or water turbines. Similarly, a high-speed DC-to-DC battery converter can more effectively manage challenging scenarios like grid islanding events, such as the start-up of a heat pump—capabilities that are often lacking in current systems.

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From Grid to Island

and back to Grid

Switching between Grid and Island mode and back to Grid mode when the grid power is restored is in the majority of cases, not possible. 

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Today, operating a home completely independent from the grid—while maintaining the same comfort and convenience as a grid-connected house—is still quite rare and often comes with a high price tag for most homeowners.

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However, the rise of adequate local solar power generation and on-site battery storage is laying the groundwork for this new era. Achieving genuine island mode not only enhances the comfort and autonomy of individual homeowners, but also brings significant benefits to communities, especially by reducing vulnerability and response efforts during catastrophic events.

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At SiGaN, we believe that enabling real island operation of homes—especially by extending battery capacity through electric vehicles and bidirectional V2X technology—can play a vital role in reducing society’s critical dependence on an external electricity supply.

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Our mission is to make this technology accessible to all, aiming to offer it at (almost) no additional cost as part of our MMIP initiative. This is more than a technical upgrade; it’s a step toward a resilient and empowered energy future.

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Fully integrated

motor Drives

Harsh and ATEX (explosive) environments are encountered across a wide range of settings, from outdoor installations and mining operations to production facilities with significant dust exposure, such as carpentry workshops.

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These challenging conditions, combined with the complexity of modern machinery—particularly electric motors and their electronic control systems—present significant demands for machinery designers, installers, and maintenance personnel.

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In such demanding applications, fully integrated motor drives—where all drive electronics and control components are housed within an extended motor enclosure—offer substantial advantages.

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This integrated approach enhances reliability, simplifies installation, and improves protection against environmental hazards like dust, moisture, and vibration. As a result, these systems deliver impressive returns in terms of Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), reducing not only initial installation and wiring expenses but also ongoing maintenance and operational costs throughout the equipment’s lifecycle.

The Modular Motor Integration Platform (MMIP) provides the technological foundation for these fully integrated drives. While the hardware platform is standardised and robust, the control software—such as implementations of the CANopen protocol and its extensions—remains highly customisable. This allows Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to tailor the drive’s communication and control features to meet specific application requirements, ensuring flexibility.

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Safe torque off

In machinery motor drive applications, ensuring that a motor is completely powered down—even in the event of a failure—is often a legal and safety requirement. To address this, the Safe Torque Off (STO) principle has been established, which fundamentally prevents any electrical current from reaching the motor drive’s switching components.

Currently, the MMIP does not include this feature. However, it will be prioritized as soon as there is demand from an OEM project.

The foundational technology for STO is already in place, so development and integration will be swift once initiated.

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Controller MCUs such

as TI TMS, STM

While our hardware team may wish to disagree, it’s the embedded software that truly drives advanced functionality, certification, and the overall customer experience.

Currently, the MMIP supports TI TMS and STM microcontrollers, along with a comprehensive code base tailored for both DC and AC operations.​​​

Fully automated

production

Manufacturing costs are a major concern across many industry sectors, particularly when it comes to manual assembly labour expenses in high-cost countries.

SiGaN’s MMIP offers components and processes designed to enable fully automated assembly lines right from the beginning of an OEM product development project.

Since attention to detail is crucial, we recommend leveraging our PIC SOP (Start of Production) support to ensure a seamless transition to EMS factories and a smooth launch of serial production.

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Ultra high efficiency power conversion (99%)

Conversion efficiency is more than just a metric—it’s essential for enhancing the performance of many applications. Achieving higher efficiency offers several important advantages beyond simply reducing electrical losses:

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• Lower cooling requirements

• Reduced stress on components and fewer failures

• Potential for fanless operation

• Smaller product size

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SiGaN’s advanced technology delivers conversion efficiencies of up to 99.6%, all while maintaining an exceptionally competitive price.

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Virtual inertia

In many modern power grids, the amount of real (physical) inertia—traditionally provided by the massive rotating machinery of synchronous generators in coal, gas, and hydroelectric power plants, often weighing several hundred tons—has been steadily declining. This is because these conventional plants are being phased out and replaced by inverter-based resources such as solar photovoltaic systems, wind turbines, and battery energy storage. While these new technologies are essential for decarbonizing the energy sector, they do not inherently provide the kinetic energy buffering that large rotating machines once did.

The loss of this kinetic energy buffer means that the grid is less able to absorb and dampen sudden imbalances between electricity supply and demand, making it more vulnerable to rapid frequency changes and instability.

To address this challenge, virtual inertia technologies have been developed. Virtual inertia uses advanced control algorithms in inverter-based devices to emulate the stabilising effects of physical inertia, providing the grid with the fast, real-time buffering it needs to maintain stability. 

This is achieved through fast-reaction inverters, which can be programmed to rapidly inject or absorb power in response to grid disturbances—far exceeding their typical normal operating behaviour. When many such devices operate in coordination, responding automatically to changes in grid voltage or frequency, they collectively restore the grid’s robustness and resilience.

The importance of these technologies is underscored by recent events such as the Spain/Portugal blackout, where insufficient inertia contributed to a cascading grid failure. To prevent such scenarios, the deployment of virtual inertia and grid-forming technologies is now recognized as essential for ensuring grid stability and reliability in power systems with high shares of renewables.

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​Isolated inverter/

converter modules

Electrical safety is a critical concern, and many application-specific regulations require effective electrical isolation.

While the use of isolation transformers is a well-established method, achieving optimal functionality and high efficiency across a broad range of scenarios remains a complex challenge.

SiGaN brings extensive expertise in DAB and LLC topologies, along with advanced transformer design, all supported by our comprehensive MMIP library of proven solutions.

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Multi grid AC

As a renewable energy installer, you often encounter homes with a variety of grid connections—single-phase (1p), two-phase (2p), or three-phase (3p)—and sometimes with differing voltage levels. This diversity means selecting the right product is essential, making logistics more complex.

From an OEM perspective, manufacturers must design and market several product variants to accommodate these different grid types. Likewise, homeowners need to ensure they purchase equipment compatible with their specific grid connection.

These challenges could be largely eliminated if residential inverters were designed as multi-grid AC devices. In this scenario, the AC section interfacing with the grid would handle multiple input types, providing homeowners with much greater flexibility.

For example:
A house in Italy with a 1-phase 230VAC 32A connection (7kW capacity) could, with a multi-grid AC battery energy storage system (BESS), support the installation of a 3-phase heat pump with up to 14kW peak output. The inverter would balance and supply power to the additional phases using the battery, unlocking new possibilities for home energy systems.

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Comms protocols

such as CAN, EtherCAT

Protocols for special communication e.g. a bespoke connector box connection is typically project based and will be provided by SiGaN on request as part of the OEM PEDaaS project. 

While SiGaN manages all MMIP power electronics communication, the interaction with the frontend and external devices still needs to be clearly defined, and an appropriate interface protocol must be established.

Cybersecurity considerations are typically addressed at the product’s frontend. However, SiGaN also ensures encryption and security for the MCU code running on MMIP components. Support for secure over-the-air (OTA) updates is generally included.

For specialised communication needs—such as a custom connector box—protocols are usually developed on a project-specific basis and can be provided by SiGaN as part of the OEM PEDaaS project, upon request.

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Recuperation

Improving the energy efficiency of products and applications is not just a trend—it’s also a compelling selling point, as it helps reduce the total cost of ownership (TCO) for customers. TCO considers all costs associated with owning and operating a product over its entire lifecycle, not just the initial purchase price.

Recuperation technologies can significantly lower overall energy consumption in many applications. For example, elevators can achieve up to 25% energy savings, while industrial robots can see reductions of up to 15%. These improvements translate directly into lower operating costs and enhanced sustainability.

However, achieving cost-effective and high-performance recuperation requires carefully designed power electronics and a high level of technical expertise. The effectiveness of recuperation depends on the quality of the system’s design and its ability to integrate seamlessly with the application.

The MMIP platform already offers a wide range of blocks and modules well-suited for such energy-efficient solutions. Nevertheless, certain applications—such as elevators—demand rigorous safety certifications for both hardware and software. To address these requirements, a collaborative design approach is essential, and a PEDaaS (Power Electronics Design as a Service) project setup is recommended to ensure all safety and certification aspects are thoroughly covered.

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Repair and recycling

concepts

As the world transitions to electric technologies, electronic waste and environmental pollution are becoming significant concerns. Additionally, the failure to recover valuable materials from discarded electronics is unsustainable in the long term.

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For this reason, prioritising repair, reuse, and recycling of electronic products should be standard practice, not an afterthought. At SiGaN, we are committed to ensuring that every PEDaaS project incorporates a robust cradle-to-cradle strategy, with the clear goal of making a meaningful positive impact on sustainability.

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For example, by designing products for fully automated assembly and disassembly of major components and PCBs within the casing, we can greatly enhance repairability and enable automatic separation of inductors and PCBs from the housing. This approach significantly improves recycling opportunities without increasing initial manufacturing costs.

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