Efficient Energy Management with Power at the Core
As concerns over the impact of climate change increase, the efficient use of energy has become a priority for many industries, and energy management systems have rapidly become the core building blocks within a wide spectrum of domestic, industrial and business use cases.
Power electronics play a vital role in energy management systems, with devices like inverters and converters enabling the conversion, control, and management of electrical power. With an industry-leading track record in supplying and supporting power solutions, a comprehensive network of specialist partners, and an in-house team of experts, Avnet Silica are ideally placed to support your team.
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What is energy management?
Energy management systems span a diversity of use cases. At the grid level, they enable the storage of energy, usually in battery systems, to compensate for fluctuations in demand from the grid and the power generated by wind and solar power. At the other end of the scale, Home Energy Management Systems (HEMS) optimise domestic energy consumption by intelligently managing assets such as electric vehicles (EVs), heat pumps, photovoltaic (PV) systems, and batteries. Between these two extremes, energy management solutions scale to serve the building (BEMS), factory (FEMS), or community (CEMS).
Power electronics play a vital role in renewable energy systems, with power devices such as inverters and converters enabling the conversion, control, and management of electrical power. DC power from PV systems, for example, is converted to AC power to make it compatible with the grid while power electronics topologies are used to stabilise and condition the outputs from renewables, like wind power, before it is fed into the grid. Bidirectional electrical energy storage systems enable energy to be stored for a period, most often in batteries, before being consumed. Variable renewable energies such as wind and solar are driving the growth of battery storage systems, which come in many forms. Distributed energy resources (DER), for example, use smaller batteries at the source of generation to make the grid flexible and reliable.
Technologies, techniques, and trends in energy management
Several popular topologies have emerged in power electronics, each with specific practical applications. The buck converter topology, for example, is a DC-to-DC step-down converter, the boost topology is a DC-to-DC step-up converter, and the half-bridge is a DC-to-AC step-down converter. MOSFETs and IGBT components are both used in these topologies, although the MOSFET, with its low gate-drive power, fast switching speeds and high efficiency at low voltages tends to dominate in a wide range of power electronic applications.
The quest for increased efficiency in power conversion is driving demand for higher voltage devices, however, and this trend is stretching the conduction loss and switching time limits of the traditional silicon MOSFET. Power electronics designers are increasingly turning to wide bandgap materials, like Silicon Carbide (SiC), which has several advantages over silicon. The low switching losses and high operating frequencies of SiC MOSFETs enable them to achieve superior efficiencies, particularly in higher-power applications requiring high current, and where high temperatures require enhanced thermal conductivity. SiC MOSFETs are now available that can withstand voltage thresholds up to almost 10kV, compared with 900V for silicon, and SiC’s higher critical breakdown field means that a reduced thickness device can support a given voltage rating, leading to significant size reduction.
Developing an energy management system therefore needs a thorough understanding of a wide range of techniques and careful choice of component and semiconductor technology. With so many factors to consider and time-to-market pressure demanding accelerated decision making, how can you make sure that your energy management application is optimised for both cost and performance?
Avnet Silica is here to support you
As an industry-leading force in power electronics, Avnet Silica has the capabilities to help you select the best power technologies for your energy management solution, without exceeding your budget.
Whether the answer is to build or buy, module or discrete design, our experts are here to help your team weigh the options and specify the best power solution for your application. With a comprehensive portfolio of products from the world’s leading suppliers of power electronics, Avnet Silica has the inventory in place to support you, particularly when time to market is critical. When you work with us you have direct access to our relationships with these suppliers and the insights which will ensure you make the right decisions.
From system design to application engineering, and prototyping, Avnet Silica’s specialist power team provides the products, technical support, regulatory compliance advice and design services to help you develop and optimise your solution. It's an exciting time to be involved in the power industry, and Avnet Silica is here to support you every step of the way.
Featured Energy Management podcasts
We Talk IoT Podcast - Episode 57: Optimising Power Efficiency with IoT
With rising energy costs and a greater push toward sustainability, industries are increasingly turning to IoT solutions to optimise energy consumption and reduce waste. IoT is not only about smart devices but also about gathering data to make smarter decisions that drive both efficiency and sustainability.
We explore the impact of IoT on energy efficiency and sustainability with Andy Richardson, VP of business development at Salom Europe. And delve into how data collected through IoT-enabled power supplies can lead to significant CO2 emissions savings, equivalent to saving thousands of trees. Our discussion highlights the necessity of understanding power usage profiles for accurate emissions reporting and legislation compliance and the broader implications for businesses aiming to achieve net-zero emissions by 2030. Andy shares insight into Salom's strategies and how companies can leverage IoT to drive new business models and make informed decisions.
Episode 37: Unleashing the Power of Wind Energy
Hold on to your hats: In today’s episode, we discuss one of the fastest-growing renewable power sources: wind energy. Did you know that a single wind turbine has the potential to generate enough electricity to power 1,400 homes?
In this episode, we welcome Barry Thompson, CEO of Alpha 311.
We'll unpack how cutting-edge technologies and ingenious strategies are evolving in this sector, emphasizing the impact of IoT in enhancing turbine efficiency. Our discussion will also cover the ecological benefits of wind power and a forward-looking perspective on this form of renewable energy.
Featured Energy Management solutions
Technology
Power: designing solutions with power at the core
We provide you with the right insights and expertise when you need it most, so you can make the right decisions for your product, and your business.
Avnet Silica is involved with every facet of the energy transformation and no matter what you’re designing, our experience and broad offering will ensure your application is fully charged for success.
ENERGY MANAGEMENTonsemi
SiC for Energy Storage
As the smart grid emerges, batteries from EVs that have reached the end of their first lives are finding new leases of life in energy storage systems. At every stage, SiC is helping to maximize storage capacity.
Nexperia
NEH2000BY Energy Harvesting PMIC
Nexperia energy harvesting solutions powers devices by using energy already available at its location. The ultra-compact, high-performing chipsets features a unique technology for a reduced BOM cost and ultra-fast Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT).
Nexperia
Transformer drivers
Push-pull transformer drivers are designed to drive small-form-factor center-tapped transformers and offer a low-noise, low electromagnetic (EMI), and high efficiency solution for providing isolated power for signal isolators and isolated systems.
Working on a power project?
Our experts bring insights that extend beyond the datasheet, availability and price. The combined experience contained within our network covers thousands of projects across different customers, markets, regions and technologies. We will pull together the right team from our collective expertise to focus on your application, providing valuable ideas and recommendations to improve your product and accelerate its journey from the initial concept out into the world.
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