Invited Industry Session Details I1.2

I1.2 Module-level power electronics for photovoltaics:

• Presenter: Dr. Patrick Chapman, Senior Director, SunPower Corporation

• Abstract: This presentation will cover the recent ascent of module-level power electronics (MLPE) into mainstream use in photovoltaic (PV) power systems.  Compared to the conventional string or “central” inverter, MLPE now has an increasing share in US commercial and, especially, residential systems.  We will begin with a review of market trends, proceed to present-day technology, and conclude with guidance on related challenges in power electronics for the future of MLPE.  The purpose of the talk to emphasize the power electronics design factors that are most relevant to MLPE.

• Presenter Biography: Patrick Chapman is a Senior Director at SunPower Corporation, where he leads power electronics development for solar applications.  Prior to this, he was a co-founder and the Chief Technology Officer at SolarBridge Technologies, Inc., which was acquired by SunPower in 2014.  He has also been Willett Faculty Scholar, Grainger Associate, and Associate Professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  He received a Ph.D. from Purdue University in 2000, and the Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Missouri-Rolla in 1996 and 1997.  He is a Senior Member of the IEEE and has served many roles with the IEEE, including General Chair for the 2011 Applied Power Electronics Conference.   He has received alumni awards from Purdue University and the University of Missouri-Rolla.  He has received the National Science Foundation CAREER Award and the Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Award.  He was named the Richard M. Bass Outstanding Young Power Electronics Engineer in 2006.  His primary technical interests within solar power include microinverters, ACPV modules, and energy storage applications. 

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