Power Electronics: The Enabling Technology for Renewable Energy Integration

The markedly increased integration of renewable energy in the power grid is of significance in the transition to a sustainable energy future. The grid integration of renewables will be continuously enhanced in the future. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), renewable technology is the main pathway to reach zero carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 2060. Power electronics have played and will continue to play a significant role in this energy transition by providing efficient electrical energy conversion, distribution, transmission, and utilization. Consequently, the development of power electronics technologies, i.e., new semiconductor devices, flexible converters, and advanced control schemes, is promoted extensively across the globe. Among various renewables, wind energy and photovoltaic (PV) are the most widely used, and accordingly these are explored in this paper to demonstrate the role of power electronics. The development of renewable energies and the demands of power electronics are reviewed first. Then, the power conversion and control technologies as well as grid codes for wind and PV systems are discussed. Future trends in terms of power semiconductors, reliability, advanced control, grid-forming operation, and security issues for large-scale grid integration of renewables, and intelligent and full user engagement are presented at the end.