The actual power grid is conceived based on AC. Until now, main power sources were located far from the consumption centres apart from some exceptional consumers. With the current increase in renewable energy sources, the face of the grid is also changing. It is no longer just top down, nor will a connection either consume or feed in energy but might do both. As a result, the actual grid stability may be affected by the intermittent nature of renewable sources and could rely on power electronics for additional inertia (localised battery storage). Medium voltage DC/AC converters are required to back up the AC distribution nodes. In addition, collecting the energy of distributed renewable energy sources in DC might reduce the environmental impact of the infrastructure. DC collection is more economical above a certain distance as it uses less copper (fewer conductors) and has no reactive losses. With the growing demand for copper and other material resources along with the need for reduced CO₂ emissions, the economic balance between AC and DC for the Medium Voltage distribution might lean towards DC. As a matter of fact, DC/DC conversion uses much higher frequency converters (DC Solid State Transformers) that require much less copper (since high ratio conversion and isolation are required a transformer is mandatory) and smaller passives (filters) at an increased cost for control. 

 A sound application for Medium Voltage DC collection/distribution is related to long distance infrastructures such as highway corridors, railways and riverbanks. DC has huge potential that comes with an increase of energy demand for fast charge of BEVs, which require several Megawatts per connection point to the grid. In such conditions the AC grid is no longer sufficient and would benefit from a DC backbone that would be able to connect sources, loads and storage over long distances. 

There are no MVDC standards available yet, but discussions seem to point towards +/-20 kV MVDC grid. To handle these voltages, cost-effective, versatile, compact, and particularly reliable high voltage semiconductor devices are needed. For this reason, research and development of SiC power semiconductors and DC/DC, DC/AC converter topologies are encouraged through big investments at National and European levels. Three European HORIZON projects aim to demonstrate SiC based converters, which should fill exactly this gap:

AdvanSiC: focuses on cost and size reduction and low environmental impact of SiC based MVDC/HVDC converters. The activities range from the wafer to the converter and include tools for design, modelling and health monitoring.

FOR²ENSiCS: aims to demonstrate a MV DC/DC converter based on UHV SiC devices. This will allow for a simplification of the converter topology as well as a reliable & compact design.

SiC4GRID: is focusing on cost and size reduction and low environmental impact of SiC based MVDC/HVDC converters. The activities range from the wafer to the converter and include tools for design, modelling and health monitoring.

The workshop will present the latest results from the three research projects complemented with presentations from the relevant industry. 

All presentations and discussions will be in English language.