INverter Systems for Power Integration and Resilient Energy Systems

IN.SPIRE redefines the role of the solar inverter as the intelligent backbone of future PV systems. The project addresses a critical gap in the European energy transition: as renewable penetration grows rapidly, the inverters connecting PV systems to the grid must become smarter, more efficient, more flexible, and more resilient, yet current market offerings fall short.

IN.SPIRE redefines the role of the solar inverter as the intelligent backbone of future PV systems, developing two complementary platforms that together cover commercial, industrial, and utility-scale needs.

The project develops two complementary inverter platforms: CE+T's Low-Voltage(LV) inverter for commercial & industrial applications, and SMA's Medium-Voltage(MV) inverter for utility-scale PV.

The medium-voltage design introduces a 3 kV DC link with wide-bandgap semiconductors (GaN and SiC MOSFETs) to achieve unprecedented power density and reduced balance-of-system costs. The low-voltage design extends modular hybrid operation across PV, battery, and AC ports with partial power processing for commercial and industrial applications.

Over a dozen transferable innovations advance both inverters from TRL 4 to TRL 6–7 and position them for commercial uptake across Europe's solar energy market to push Europe's PV systems to the next level of efficiency, resilience, and grid integration.

The Consortium

  • TH!NK E

    Th!nk E is a forward-thinking company committed to a fair, sustainable, and resilient energy transition in Europe and beyond. Founded in 2011, it has since grown into a leading Belgian SME, based in Leuven, and has become a reference in the field of energy transition, both in Belgium and at the European level.

    think-e.be

  • KU LEUVEN

    KUL ranks among the world’s top 100 universities and operates state-of-the-art power electronics labs, including hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) setups at EnergyVille. Its expertise is in power converter design, multi-objective optimisation and reliability modelling, as well as control software in power applications.

    kuleuven.be

  • SPE

    SolarPower Europe (SPE) is the EU’s largest solar industry association, with around 300 members, ensuring alignment with EU industrial strategy and direct access to manufacturers, policymakers, and developers.

    solarpowereurope.org

  • CE+T POWER

    CE+T Power is a global leader in innovative modular low-voltage power conversion solutions for energy storage, microgrids, EV charging, and beyond. Through flexible manufacturing, proven expertise, and the creativity of its teams, CE+T drives the transition to resilient, sustainable energy systems.

    cet-power.com

  • SAL

    Silicon Austria Labs (SAL), is an Austrian R&D center with a focus on the development of efficient and trustworthy technologies in the field of Electronics and Software Based Systems (EBSB) providing industry-oriented research and R&D services as well as customized opportunities for cooperation.

    silicon-austria-labs.com

  • VITO

    VITO is a research institute and science-to-technology partner for companies, governments and society in sustainability transition. Our research activities are focused on three domains in which we want to achieve maximum impact: a regenerative economy, a healthy living environment and resilient ecosystems.

    vito.be

  • FRAUNHOFER ISE

    Fraunhofer ISE is Europe's largest solar research institute. Its project-relevant activities include accredited MW-range grid-code testing, grid-forming inverter control software development, and the design of cyber-secure control concepts.

    ise.fraunhofer.de

  • INFINEON

    Infineon Technologies AG is a global semiconductor leader in power systems and IoT. With its products and solutions, Infineon drives decarbonization and digitalization. In the field of power semiconductors, Infineon is the global market leader and a key driver of energy efficiency and sustainable innovation.

    infineon.com

  • TU DRESDEN

    TU Dresden combines research and teaching while developing innovations and transferring them into industrial practice. The Chair of Power Electronics conducts research on low- and medium-voltage power converters, advanced power semiconductor applications, and reliable power electronic systems, covering modelling, control, and experimental validation.

    tu-dresden.de

  • SMA

    As a leading global specialist in PV system technology, SMA sets the standards for the decentralized, digital, and renewable energy supply of tomorrow. With innovative solutions for all PV applications, it offers people and companies worldwide greater independence in meeting their energy needs.

    sma.de

  • ZEZ

    ZEZ (Green Energy Cooperative) is a leading Croatian organization for citizen energy, solar literacy and energy communities, supporting households, SMEs and public institutions in developing practical, community-led renewable energy projects.

    zez.coop

  • 3E

    3E is a market-leading SaaS and advisory company for the renewable energy sector. We enable informed decisions across the full lifecycle of solar, wind and energy storage projects through a unique combination of digital solutions and expert advisory services, helping clients optimize performance and mitigate risk.

    3e.eu

  • SOLAR DEFEND

    SolarDefend is the cybersecurity SME specialising in securing inverter communication interfaces and cloud monitoring platforms against real-world threats, working towards future industry standards. It is committed to enhancing trust and resilience in next generation energy systems.

    solardefend.eu

Project structure:

9 work packages, 42 months.

IN.SPIRE's nine work packages follow the full innovation lifecycle, from defining use cases, KPIs, and design frameworks, through hardware and firmware development, to system integration, testing, and field demonstration. A transversal coordination package keeps design decisions aligned across the consortium throughout, while dedicated packages ensure exploitation, dissemination, and standardisation pathways are built in from the start.

Technical approach:

Three problems IN.SPIRE is built to solve:

9 of 10

top global inverter vendors are headquartered outside Europe, leaving EU grids exposed to supply chain disruption and coordinated cyberattack

750 GWp

solar required in Europe by 2030, yet current inverter technology cannot deliver the grid-forming capability this penetration level demands 

1,500 V

the current DC voltage ceiling — IN.SPIRE breaks through it with a 3 kV architecture that cuts cable costs 30–40% per MWp at utility scale 

A unified methodology from design to demonstration.

 

Multi-objective optimisation with digital twins

 

Ensuring new components and controls are systematically steered from early-stage design through to grid-connected prototypes.

 

Partial-power converter topologies

 

And advanced EMI/EMC filtering with active noise cancellation for superior electromagnetic compatibility.

 

Sensor-enabled gate drivers

 

For real-time health monitoring and grid-forming control aligned with emerging European grid codes.

 

Stress-aware operation and thermal management

 

For reliability, enhanced by "reflex" cybersecurity functions safeguarding hardware and grid stability.

 

Lab validation and field demonstration

 

MV inverter validated via HiL and accredited MV labs, while LV inverter validated via HiL plus field demonstration at the ZEZ site in Croatia.