Circular Power Electronics: Exploring the Scope and Suitability of Ecodesign Criteria for the Power Electronics Industry

Renewable energies play a key role in achieving climate neutrality by 2050. However, although their environmental impact is generally lower compared to conventional energy sources, it is crucial to focus attention on the design and life cycle management (LCM) of the components and equipment of these technology systems to further mitigate potential negative effects on the environment. Power electronics plays a crucial role in the production of renewable energy (RE) due to its role in the conversion, control and distribution of electrical energy generated by renewable sources, such as solar or wind. Nevertheless, there is a lack of information available in the literature on the ecodesign performance of these products. This article explores the applicability of ecodesign criteria in the power electronics (PE) industry. For this purpose, a database of ecodesign criteria, based on the specifications from the EU Ecodesign Directive, was developed and tested with different industrial actors to gather the perception from the industry on the actual applicability of these ecodesign criteria in the design and LCM of PEs. The results indicate that the most important ecodesign criteria are those related to the Installation/Use/Maintenance life cycle stage of power converters, focusing on improving equipment efficiency by minimizing energy losses and ensuring optimal operation through proper maintenance. In contrast, end-of-life aspects of the converter are the least addressed by the industry. Differences in the implementation of ecodesign criteria between institutions have been analysed, while the ecodesign aspects of the directive have been compared with the actual perception of the PE industry. This includes an analysis of the criteria with the lowest circularity potential versus the highest rated criteria according to life cycle stage.