UK to Achieve Modernization of Power Grid with Silicon Carbide Technology

Recently, Anvil Semiconductor Company of United Kingdom has announced that they will participate in UK electricity infrastructure modernization program valued at 9.5 million pounds, which is set up to deal with energy consumption, production, distribution and some unprecedented changes in this field. Innovative UK and UK Govt's Technology Strategy Board are to invest in the project, which will innovate new power supply mode, and overcome the energy sustainability challenges, safety supplies, and affordability.

The plan has done the validation in the western electricity distribution company residents supply network, and will adopt some silicon carbide power device to improve the network capacity and deal with civil and commercial requirements. The team includes Western Distribution Company, Anvil Semiconductor Company, Turbine Power Generation System Company and Aston university, but does not include Ames and Schneider Electric Company that directs the design and delivery of the plan.　　

Before 2020, the household installing solar panels in the United Kingdom will reach 10 million households, and electric car sales will increase to 6.4 million by 2023. As a result, the unidirectional power transport design of existing power infrastructure will have to face new power grid load patterns.　　

The integrated distributed generation model increases the power generation, but also brings new challenges for the load voltage control and forecasting as well as the demand for electricity. Distribution network operators are faced with the challenge of modernization brought by the existing infrastructure, and are investing in the development of smart technology in response to this shift.　　

The aim of the experiment is to improve the network voltage to further increase the local residents' existing power infrastructure grid capacity. This method can make the power grid provide different voltage at the same time (such as for electric vehicle charging and provide residential buildings with constant voltage of 240 volts at the same time).　　

In order to realize the 400 v power distribution capacity they will test the electric meter box and high-performance power electronic converter. The power electronic converters will also need to be made by the low cost of silicon carbide switch device of Anvil Company so as to achieve the required performance, efficiency, stability and keep the continuity of cost.