More efficient inverters with SiC semiconductors?

[Piwoslaw]

I recently read that Toyota and Denso are working on silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductors, more efficient than silicon, to reduce how much energy is wasted by the inverters in hybrid cars.

Through use of SiC power semiconductors, Toyota aims to improve hybrid vehicle (HV) fuel efficiency by 10 percent [...] SiC power semiconductors have low power loss when switching on and off, allowing for efficient current flow even at higher frequencies.
[...]
PCUs play an important role in hybrids and other vehicles with an electrified powertrain: they supply electrical power from the battery to the motor to control vehicle speed, and also send electricity generated during deceleration to the battery for storage. However, PCUs account for approximately 25 percent of the total electrical power loss in HVs, with an estimated 20 percent of the total loss associated with the power semiconductors alone. Therefore, a key way to improve fuel efficiency is to improve power semiconductor efficiency, specifically by reducing resistance experienced by the passing current.

I am wondering if this technology can also be used to improve the efficiency of inverters used for RE, for example solar and wind?

[Daox]

I would imagine this technology will penetrate all electronic devices.

[NiHaoMike]

They can certainly help, but in the case of standalone (off grid) inverters, the main thing that could be done to vastly improve overall system efficiency is to use DSP to optimize the output waveform for the load. For example, if it detects an electronic load, it would output a controlled edge square wave or "trapezoid wave". If it detects a motor load, it would output a sine wave and also try to optimize the V/Hz ratio. At the same time, it can shift the frequency up and down in order to extend battery runtime or make more effective use of energy production.

The main problem with that idea is that if the load is composite (combination of electronic and motor loads or multiple unlike motor loads), the inverter would have to compromise. Typically, those who pay a lot for a top notch inverter would want one that "runs everything", while such a "smart inverter" idea works the best when used in a PoL (Point of Load) configuration. I think the solution is to essentially convert the motor loads into electronic loads with PoL VFDs and the central inverter can then be designed to only run electronic loads.