Reduced semiconductor device power cell voltage drive

A method comprising:

• providing a phase shifting transformer that receives a three-phase primary voltage and steps the three-phase primary voltage one or up and down to a secondary voltage with a plurality of secondary winding sets, wherein the phase shifting transformer comprises n secondary winding sets, each secondary winding set comprising 3 isolated single-phase;
• and providing three power cell sets that each comprise a plurality of n power cells cascaded connected, and each power cell receives a single phase voltage of a distinct secondary winding set of the phase shifting transformer, wherein each power cell comprises no more than six power semiconductor devices organized as a rectifier and an inverter, the rectifier of each power cell comprises two power semiconductor devices, a first input terminal of the rectifier connects to an interconnection point of the two power semiconductor devices, a second input terminal of the rectifier connects to a middle point of a direct current link common to the rectifier and the inverter, the inverter of each power cell comprises four power semiconductor devices the power cells in each power cell set are connected in series at outputs with first ends of three sets of power cells connected together to form a neutral point and second ends of the three sets of power cells connected to output terminals of a power supply;
• and each power cell set generates one phase of a three-phase Alternating Current (AC) output.