electronica 2022 will showcase the vital role that electronic technology has to play in this transformation from November 15-18, 2022 at the Munich Trade Fair Centre.
On the path toward an alternative energy system, the concept of "smart energy" makes a significant contribution. The term refers to intelligent technologies and solutions designed to achieve the efficient production, distribution, use, and storage of energy, encompassing the entire energy industry value chain. According to a recent study by the IMARC Group, the global smart energy market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.82%, increasing from $138.8 billion in 2021 to $247.8 billion in 2027. Analysts identified the growing demand for smart grids as the primary driver of this growth.
Smart Grids:
While the electricity grid currently distributes electricity generated centrally by large power plants to consumers, smart grids also aggregate all data flows for energy supply. This allows, for example, the efficient balancing of the enormous energy fluctuations from solar and wind power plants on existing electricity grids and their selective control. The amounts of energy produced and consumed must be continuously measured and analyzed using sensors and IoT-enabled devices.
Smart meters
On the consumer side, this is addressed with smart meters. They also control the supply of solar energy if consumers also become producers (prosumers) with a rooftop solar system. Installation of the necessary smart metering systems (iMSys) is only mandatory for annual electricity consumption exceeding 6,000 kWh, or if consumers themselves feed electricity into the grid. In that case, a smart meter gateway (SMGW) with an integrated security module receives the metering data and processes it for external market participants, internal consumers of controllable energy, and energy producers (smart appliances, photovoltaic systems). By 2032, all electricity consumers in Germany must have at least one digital meter without a gateway.
Semiconductors for the energy transition
Measuring, regulating, transforming, and communicating: when it comes to the energy transition, power electronics plays a crucial role. For example, while photovoltaic systems or batteries supply direct current (DC), wind turbines supply alternating current (AC) at a frequency that cannot be used directly. Meanwhile, electricity consumers have their own individual needs regarding electricity and voltage. Power electronics acts as a connector, with a potential efficiency of up to 99%. The potential for energy savings is immense, since, statistically speaking, even today electricity passes through at least one power converter on its way from producers to consumers. According to a study by the European Centre for Power Electronics (ECPE), more than a quarter of electrical energy could be saved through the use of modern power electronics.
And in some areas, silicon is no longer the first choice. Broadband semiconductors, such as silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN), which are increasingly used, benefit from higher switching capacity with the same low losses. However, according to analysts at Yole Développement, the technology is still in its early stages of development. They expect revenues of $6.3 billion for SiC components by 2027. Meanwhile, silicon components continue to surprise with significant performance increases and will remain a source of revenue for the industry for decades to come. Overall, heat management, robustness, reliability, and ultimately, packaging remain fundamental issues in the semiconductor field.
Embedded Systems:
Semiconductors are also the building blocks of embedded systems in a digital, networked, and automated energy world. For example, they provide data on network status, temperature, electricity flow, and cable angles. This data is processed in the cloud or directly on-site (at the edge) using AI algorithms. Embedded systems also transform traditional building automation into a predictive management approach with significant energy-saving potential. And in the future, buildings using smart energy meters (iMSys) connected to a smart grid will not only be able to optimize their own consumption but also act as electricity producers, feeding surplus energy back into the grid.
Smart Energy at electronica 2022.
Whether at the trade fair booths, in the forums, or at the conferences, visitors will encounter smart energy everywhere at electronica 2022, as electronics also plays a key role in the energy transition. This will be the central theme of the Power Electronics Forum, which will cover the entire spectrum of power electronics, while experts will discuss current trends and developments in this area at the electronica Embedded Platforms Conference. The exhibition area for the power supply theme in Hall A4 will encompass the complete portfolio of transformers, power supplies, supply units, and batteries. In the other halls of the trade fair, many exhibitors will also present their smart energy-related products and solutions, such as semiconductors in Halls B4, C2, C3, and C4, and embedded systems in Hall B4.
