PRESENTATION

Power Semiconductors – The Silent Heroes in the Transition of the Power Grid

Two decades ago, power semiconductors were hardly used in the primary grid on the high voltage side and the power grids were clearly structured with power sources, transforming many kinds of primary energy into electrical energy, distribution grids distributing the electrical energy to the various breakers and transformers and the to loads. There was a well-defined power flow from generation via distribution grids to the load. Today’s power grids is different: Loads are changing to active loads and feed the power grid with green and sustainable green energy from solar cells. Impossible without power semiconductors converting the DC from solar cells to AC. Furthermore, connecting offshore wind turbines far away from the coast with High Voltage DC-Transmission links to the power grid, again, impossible without power semiconductors. Let’s discover together these silent heroes.

Tobias Keller

Hitachi Energy

Tobias Keller graduated from University of applied science Aargau with a degree in power electronics, thermodynamics and el. machines. He joined ABB’s Excitation and Synchronizing business. He was the Vice President global Products and Marketing. Afterwards he held the Vice President position for Vehicle Integration Engineering in ABB’s traction business. Since 2019, he is the Vice President global Product Management in Hitachi Energy Semiconductor. In 2023 Marketing was added to his responsibilities. Tobias Keller is a senior member of IEEE.