SiC MOSFET Technology Can Significantly Improve Weight, Cost and Efficiency in PV Inverters

DURHAM, N.C. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — April 17, 2013 — Cree, Inc. (Nasdaq: CREE) and Delta Energy Systems announce a breakthrough in the photovoltaic (PV) inverter industry with the release of Delta’s new generation of solar inverters, which utilize SiC power MOSFETs from Cree. The use of SiC MOSFETs in the next-generation PV inverters can enable significant new milestones in power density, efficiency and weight.

“The next-generation PV inverters from Delta are designed to set a new milestone of power density by utilizing SiC MOSFETs,” commented Mr. Klaus Gremmelspacher, head of research and development for PV inverters at Delta Energy Systems. “The SiC MOSFETs from Cree were essential for us to realize our goals for new, high-power inverters that are lightweight and have industry-leading efficiency.”

Cree released the first silicon carbide MOSFETs, used for their ability to cut losses and allow PV inverters to run at higher efficiencies and higher power densities, in 2011 and a dramatically improved, second-generation SiC MOSFET in 2013. Now, as a milestone product announcement, Delta Energy Systems, a subsidiary of Delta Electronics Group, one of the world’s largest and most respected providers of power management solutions, has incorporated Cree^® SiC MOSFETs into its next-generation solar power inverter. Utilizing 1200V SiC MOSFET’s from Cree in an 11kW PV inverter, Delta has already been able to extend the DC input voltage range while maintaining and even increasing the maximum efficiency of its previous products. The Delta 11kW booster, which employs Cree’s SiC MOSFET and now has 1kV DC input instead of 900V, is targeted for release in Q2 2013.

Dr. Scott Allen, senior director of marketing, Cree Power, remarked, “We are pleased and honored to have Delta Energy Systems as a customer for our SiC MOSFET. They are utilizing the 1200V, 160m-Ohm MOSFET, which has matured rapidly since its release in 2011 and offers industry-leading performance and cost. Advanced technology customers like Delta are now moving aggressively forward with our SiC MOSFET technology, which enables reduced size, weight and cost for PV inverters, from 20 to 50% when compared with silicon, while at the same time maintaining or increasing efficiency.”

Packaged SiC MOSFETs from Cree are available from DigiKey and Mouser, and die are available from SemiDice. For more information, please visit www.cree.com/power or contact a local Cree sales person or distributor.

About Cree

Cree is a market-leading innovator of semiconductor products for power and radio-frequency (RF) applications, lighting-class LEDs and LED lighting solutions.

Cree's product families include LED fixtures and bulbs, blue and green LED chips, high-brightness LEDs, lighting-class power LEDs, power-switching devices and RF devices. Cree products are driving improvements in applications such as general illumination, electronic signs and signals, power supplies and solar inverters.

For additional product and company information, please refer to www.cree.com.

About Delta

Delta Electronics Group is the worldwide leading manufacturer of switched-mode power supplies and an important supplier of video displays and electronic components for computers, telecommunications, networking, medical and industry applications and renewable energy. Worldwide, Delta employs 80,000 people in sales and distribution, development, and production.

Since 1999 the subsidiary Delta Energy Systems has invested in the development and global marketing of the Solar Inverter Program, which has made an important and successful contribution to Delta's focus on providing innovative, environmentally friendly and efficient energy solutions for a better future.

For additional product and company information, please visit www.solar-inverter.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements involving risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown, that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated. Actual results may differ materially due to a number of factors, including the risk that actual savings will vary from expectations; customer acceptance of our products; the rapid development of new technology and competing products that may impair demand or render Cree’s products obsolete; and other factors discussed in Cree’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 24, 2012, and subsequent filings.

Cree^® is a registered trademark of Cree, Inc.

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Contact:

Cree, Inc.
Gena Fiegel, 919-407-7651
Corporate Communications
Email Contact
or
Delta Energy Systems
Eric Thorsrud, +49 (0) 7641 455 460
Email Contact