Enabling Advanced Power Electronics Technologies Workshop

The role of power electronics in the utility grid is continually expanding. As converter design processes mature and new advanced materials become available, the pace of industry adoption is poised to accelerate. Looking forward, we can envision a future in which power electronics are as integral to grid functionality as the transformer is today. The Enabling Advanced Power Electronics Technologies for the Next Generation Electric Utility Grid Workshop was organized by Sandia National Laboratories and held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, July 17-18, 2018. The workshop helped attendees to gain a broader understanding of power electronics R&D needs—from materials to systems—for the next generation electric utility grid. This report summarizes discussions and presentations from the workshop and identifies opportunities for future efforts.

biographies for the speakers, presenters, and panelists.

Questions: Stan Atcitty (505) 284-2701

Tuesday, July 17, 2018

Session 1 – What Does the Electric Utility Grid Look Like if Power Electronics are Readily Available? (Moderator: Stan Atcitty, Sandia National Laboratories)

Energy for What’s AheadManuel AvendanoSouthern California Edison
Future Electronic Energy SystemsDushan BoroyevichVirginia Tech
Advanced Grid Research and DevelopmentKerry CheungDOE Office of Electricity
Power Electronics and Distributed Control for the Future GridDeepak DivanGeorgia Tech

Session 2 – What is the State-of-the-art of Power Electronics Today? (Moderator: Kaushik Rajashekara, University of Houston)

Power Electronics & Power Flow Control TechnologiesRam AdapaElectric Power Research Institute
What is the State-of-the-art of Power Electronics Today?Anant AgarwalOhio State University
State of SiC-based Power ElectronicsSubhashish BhattacharyaNorth Carolina State University
Power Electronics Technology: Current StatusMadhu ChinthavaliDOE Office of Electricity

Session 3 – What Components are Needed to Achieve the Session 1 Vision? (Moderator: Bob Kaplar, Sandia National Laboratories)

Prospects for WBG Power Devices in the Electric Utility GridJim CooperSonrisa Research, Inc.
Advanced Magnetic Components NeedsPaul OhodnickiNational Energy Technology Laboratory
Components Needed: CapacitorsAbhijit GuravKEMET Corporation
Future Power Packaging Technologies Needed for the Next Generation Electric GridBrandon PassmoreWolfspeed

Session 4 – What Power Electronics Topologies are Needed to Achieve Session 1 Vision? (Moderator: Satish Ranade, New Mexico State University)

Power Electronics Topologies for Grid 1Rajib DattaGE Global Research
Power Electronics Topologies for Grid 2 Martin BeckerPrinceton Power
Power Electronics Topologies for Future Electric GridAdel NasiriUniversity of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Power Electronics Topologies for Grid 3Kaushik RajashekaraUniversity of Houston

Wednesday, July 18, 2018

Session 5 – What Role do Power Electronics Play in Making the Grid Smarter? (Moderator: Charles Hanley, Sandia National Laboratories)

What Role do Power Electronics Play in Making the Grid Smarter?Leo CaseyX (formerly Google[x])
Harnessing Smart Power Electronics to Increase Renewable Energy Penetration in Tomorrow’s Utility GridTom JahnsUniversity of Wisconsin – Madison
Advances in Solar Power Electronics for a Smarter GridHariharan KrishnaswamiDOE Solar Energy Technology Office
Virtual Inertia: Designing Power Electronic Systems to Behave like Synchronous MachinesBrandon GraingerUniversity of Pittsburgh

Session 6 – What Role do Power Electronics Play in System Integration, Standards, and Safety? (Moderator: Adel Nasiri, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee)

IEEE 1547 Standard for Interconnecting Distributed Energy Resources with Electric Power SystemsCharlie VartanianMitsubishi Electric Power Products
Eaton Corporation – Microgrid OverviewAndy RockhillEaton Corporation
Grid Level Power Electronics and Electrical SafetyWei-Jen LeeUniversity of Texas at Arlington