Power Electronics and Grid Integration

Within the area of Power Electronics and Grid Integration, we research, develop, test and evaluate power electronic components, circuits and innovative system concepts. We strive to set new standards, working together with our partners from industry and research to bring advanced ideas to the market.

Electricity from renewable energy sources is the future. It is the key to a sustainable and economical CO2-neutral energy supply. Power electronics are indispensable for the successful implementation of the transition in the energy and transport sectors. Power electronic converters are required not only to ensure efficient conversion of electrical energy but also to regulate voltage and frequency in the future grid.

In modern energy systems, power converters are essential for connecting photovoltaic and wind power plants, battery storage, electrolyzers, power consumers and electric vehicles to the grid. Power converters are increasingly being used to regulate energy flows in the power grid, for example, in HVDC or STATCOM systems. When addressing electrification in all areas of mobility. i.e., from vehicles to aviation, different types of power converters are required. Furthermore, the use of power electronics in industrial environments allows more efficient production methods, and they are being used more and more in modern heat supply concepts. Today, the overall demand for power electronics and application-optimized system concepts is enormous.

With the shutdown of conventional power plants, the question arises of how reliable voltage and frequency controls can be ensured in future converter-based grids. Today the implementation of power electronics in the grid is one of the most important challenges for stable power grid operation. With our concepts for grid-forming converters, we offer integrative solutions that support the grid every millisecond. We simulate and test the secure operation of future electricity grids based on 100 % renewable energy. We constantly develop and improve our approaches and methods, based on our learnings and experience.

We have an extensive amount of modern laboratory equipment at our disposal which we use for our research work and services. For example, we can operate power converters in the low and medium voltage level and address grid integration issues up to the multi-megawatt range.