A method for determining the emergence level of transformer technologies for green energy applications

Abstract

[EN] Solid State Transformers (SST) are the result of merging the power electronics possibilities for voltage and frequency control with high-frequency transformers, and are expected to be a key component for enabling some important features that future energy grids must possess: reversibility, stability, modularity and compactness, among others. In addition to this, the possibilities of SSTs can be enhanced with advanced semiconductor materials such as Silicium Carbide (SiC), considerably improving the voltage and frequency ranges of this devices. This study aims at developing a quantitative method for characterizing the emergence level of SSTs and SiC-based transformers in three areas where these technologies can have a sizable impact: photovoltaic (PH ) and eolic (EO) energy production and electric vehicle (EV) appliances. Results show that PH area will probably outpace the EO area in both technologies, but the attention of the scientific community may be shifting from PH in the SiC-based transformer technology. EV applications are, on average, closer to the life cycle’s exponential growth stage than PH and EO areas, so it seems reasonable to expect a comparatively faster increase of both scientific and technology development activity in this field.