We are in the midst of a global energy transition toward a decarbonized energy system, driven in large part by continued advances and price declines in technologies such as PV solar, batteries, digital electronics, and power semiconductors. Growth of PV solar in the United States is expected to reach 1050 GW by 2035, exceeding the total connected generation capacity in the United States in 2020. Similarly, electric vehicles are growing at a 60% year-over-year rate and are expected to reach 125 million EVs over the next 15 years. At the same time, the growth of wind energy and energy storage systems is continuing at a similar breakneck pace. The lower costs are making the transition toward decarbonization even easier, driving a move toward electrification of everything. Looking at projections being made by these fast-growing sectors, as much as 3000 GW of new electrical connections to the grid will be needed over the next 15–20 years, just in the United States. This rapid growth is creating supply chain shortages for all types of components, including power transformers that are connected to the grid and the steel and copper needed to build them. Given the global surge in demand, it is not surprising that transformer supply times have extended from 4 months to 2 years and continue to increase [1]. There is a need for solid-state solutions that use a small fraction of key resources, such as copper and steel, and can safely and, at a cost point that is competitive with existing solutions, provide grid connectivity.

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Soft-Switching Solid-State Transformers (S4T)

  • Deepak Divan,
  • Liran Zheng,
  • Joseph Benzaquen

摘要

We are in the midst of a global energy transition toward a decarbonized energy system, driven in large part by continued advances and price declines in technologies such as PV solar, batteries, digital electronics, and power semiconductors. Growth of PV solar in the United States is expected to reach 1050 GW by 2035, exceeding the total connected generation capacity in the United States in 2020. Similarly, electric vehicles are growing at a 60% year-over-year rate and are expected to reach 125 million EVs over the next 15 years. At the same time, the growth of wind energy and energy storage systems is continuing at a similar breakneck pace. The lower costs are making the transition toward decarbonization even easier, driving a move toward electrification of everything. Looking at projections being made by these fast-growing sectors, as much as 3000 GW of new electrical connections to the grid will be needed over the next 15–20 years, just in the United States. This rapid growth is creating supply chain shortages for all types of components, including power transformers that are connected to the grid and the steel and copper needed to build them. Given the global surge in demand, it is not surprising that transformer supply times have extended from 4 months to 2 years and continue to increase [1]. There is a need for solid-state solutions that use a small fraction of key resources, such as copper and steel, and can safely and, at a cost point that is competitive with existing solutions, provide grid connectivity.