Evolving and Emerging Applications of Power Electronics in Systems

The continuing trend toward greater electrification and control of functions in consumer, commercial, industrial, transportation, and even medical applications promises a dynamic and increasingly important role for power electronics. The growing penetration of power electronics in energy systems is driven by new materials such as SiC and GaN, as well as new packaging technologies which allow the physical integration of electronics with powered and controlled devices such as motors. Advances in very high-frequency conversion led by the application of SiC and GaN devices promises to make converter-on-a-chip technology possible, but concurrent advances in passive component technology are necessary. The principal challenge to application penetration remains cost reduction.