The increasing demand for electricity on the path to climate neutrality requires a comprehensive modernization of the power grid to ensure long-term stability and resilience. Medium voltage power electronics are becoming central elements of future energy systems as intelligent, resilient, and resource-efficient hubs. They replace conventional transformers, efficiently connect generation, storage, and consumption, enable the coupling of variable AC and DC grids, and integrate protection and stability functions
The concept is based on solid-state transformers (SST), but goes far beyond them: innovative medium-voltage power converters enable resilient, flexible subgrids with multi-megawatt power, integrated protection and stability functions, and hot-plug capability, which would not be possible with conventional transformers.
We support you along the entire value chain, from concept phase through development, simulation, and characterization to the testing of components, devices, and systems. Together, we create the basis for a future-proof, power converter-based power grid.
Research and development services for:
- Component, plant and system manufacturers
- Energy suppliers and grid operators
- Plant designers and system integrators
Key Topic Medium Voltage
Modern power grids are the key to achieving climate neutrality. SSTs will be a game changer to build efficient, resilient, and resource-saving energy distribution. Fraunhofer ISE provides support in the following areas:
- Development of innovative medium-voltage power electronics
- Control engineering and system concepts for converters
- Modeling and simulation of converter-based power grids
- Characterization and lifetime analysis of components and devices
- Testing converters and system behavior in the multi-megawatt range
Power Electronics and Grid Integration
Due to the addition of large amounts of renewable energy generation, grid formation will have to be handled in the future by power electronics in renewable and storage power plants and, if necessary, also by controllable loads. We develop and test grid-forming control methods that contribute to the system stability of resilient power grids.
We test Grid-Forming
Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE
