Payton and Renesas Advance 500W Single-Stage Solar Microinverter with GaN Technology
A Collaboration Pushing High‑Frequency Power Conversion Forward
Payton Planar Magnetics is proud to support Renesas Electronics on their latest 500 W single-stage microinverter prototype, featuring GaN bidirectional switch (BDS) and 80 V REXFET technology. The platform targets up to 97% peak efficiency, made possible by combining Renesas' advanced GaN switching capabilities with Payton's optimized planar magnetic solutions.
The microinverter operates across a wide switching frequency range of 200 kHz to 800 kHz, enabling a compact and high-density design while delivering clean power with low total harmonic distortion for both on‑grid and off-grid operation. Operating at these elevated frequencies, however, introduces significant design challenges, particularly in the magnetic components where material selection, geometry, and construction become decisive performance factors.
Why Magnetics Are Critical in High-Frequency GaN Designs
At switching frequencies reaching hundreds of kilohertz, every aspect of magnetic design has a measurable impact on overall system efficiency and reliability. The appropriate selection of core material, core shape and size, magnetic technology, transformer construction and stack design, and component layout directly determines how much power is lost, how hot the magnetics run, and how compact the final design can be.
With planar magnetics, it becomes possible to address all of these parameters simultaneously. Optimized planar solutions help designers achieve maximum efficiency, compact and lightweight construction, high power density, stable high‑frequency operation, and improved thermal performance - all of which are essential in a single‑stage 500 W solar microinverter.
GaN and Planar Magnetics: A Natural Pairing
GaN transistors switch faster and with lower losses than conventional silicon devices, which naturally pushes system designers to raise switching frequencies and shrink passive components. This is precisely where planar magnetics offer their greatest advantage: enabling the compact, low-loss transformer and inductor solutions that allow GaN-based topologies to operate at their full potential.
This collaboration between Payton and Renesas illustrates how advanced semiconductor technology and optimized magnetic design must develop in parallel to unlock next-generation performance in solar microinverters and broader high-efficiency power conversion systems.