IN.SPIRE

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.