FEPPCON XII: Sustainable Power Electronics Technology

Abstract

The clean energy transition and the emergence of an all-electric society critically depend on power electronics and digitalization, both of which require substantial amounts of (critical) raw materials with limited availability due to physical, economic, and geopolitical constraints. However, the total material demand—especially considering the necessary expansion of transmission and distribution infrastructure—remains insufficiently quantified, posing challenges for achieving netzero CO₂ emissions and zero end-of-life waste within a circular economy. While power conversion efficiency remains relevant, its importance is expected to diminish in increasingly renewable electricity systems, shifting focus toward embodied carbon emissions and material efficiency during manufacturing. This work highlights the need to integrate environmental impact indicators beyond carbon footprint into multiobjective design optimization of power electronic systems. A major barrier is the lack of standardized, transparent environmental data for components, calling for improved data availability, harmonized assessment methodologies, and enabling tools such as digital datasheets. Furthermore, life-cycle strategies—including durability, repairability, reuse, and recycling—are assessed, emphasizing that recycling should follow efforts to extend product lifetime and utility while preserving material quality. The paper also discusses emerging business models and underscores the importance of transdisciplinary research and education to equip engineers with life-cycle thinking for sustainable system design.

Christine Minke, TU Clausthal – Technische Universität Clausthal / Clausthal University of Technology; Regine Mallwitz, Technische Universität Braunschweig / Technical University of Braunschweig [Braunschweig]; Piotr Dworakowski, SuperGrid Institute; Leo Lorenz, German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina; Jonas Huber, Department of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, ETH Zurich

Published in IEEE Power Electronics Magazine, 2026, 13 (2), pp.75-80.

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