Power electronics is at the heart of modern energy systems, especially within the context of smart grids. As global energy demands shift toward more sustainable and efficient models, power electronics technologies are becoming increasingly vital for the reliable and effective management of electricity generation, transmission, and distribution. These technologies facilitate the integration of renewable energy sources, improve grid stability, and enable smarter, more flexible energy systems.

The Advanced Power Electronics for Smart Grids course, offered by The British Academy for Training and Development, is designed to provide professionals with in-depth knowledge of power electronics and its role in the development and optimization of smart grids. This course covers the core devices, technologies, and control systems used to improve the performance, stability, and efficiency of modern grids.

Participants will gain the skills needed to work with advanced power electronics devices in smart grid applications, as well as understand the integration of renewable energy sources, energy storage systems, and grid automation strategies. This course is ideal for engineers, grid operators, energy professionals, and others involved in the development of smart grid technologies.

Who Should Attend?

• Electrical Engineers looking to deepen their understanding of power electronics in the context of smart grids and energy systems.

• Grid Operators responsible for managing electrical grid operations who need advanced knowledge of power electronics applications for smart grid stability and efficiency.

• Renewable Energy Engineers working on the integration of renewable energy sources into the grid, and who wish to explore how power electronics plays a key role in this integration.

• Energy System Consultants advising on energy system improvements and smart grid integration who need a solid understanding of power electronics technologies.

• Power Electronics Designers: Engineers involved in the design and implementation of power electronic devices and systems in smart grid applications.

• Researchers and Academics: Individuals in academia or research institutions who are exploring advanced power electronics for smart grids and their application in modern energy systems.

Knowledge and Benefits:

After completing the program, participants will be able to master the following:

• Understand the key principles and technologies of advanced power electronics used in smart grid systems.
• Identify the components and devices essential to smart grid operations, including their function and integration.
• Learn how power electronics enhances grid performance, efficiency, and stability, especially in the context of renewable energy integration.
• Gain practical knowledge in the design and application of voltage source converters (VSCs), flexible AC transmission systems (FACTS), and other power electronics devices.
• Understand how power electronics solutions support grid automation, load balancing, and real-time monitoring in smart grids.
• Explore the latest advancements in power electronics materials, devices, and technologies that improve the operation of smart grids.
• Address key challenges in power electronics applications for smart grids, such as fault tolerance, power quality, and protection systems.

• Fundamentals of Power Electronics

  • Overview of power electronics, its importance in power systems, and how it applies to smart grids.
  • Basic components of power electronics devices: semiconductors, capacitors, inductors, and transformers.
  • Functions of power electronics in energy conversion, control, and regulation.

• Overview of Smart Grids

  • Characteristics and benefits of smart grids over traditional grid systems.
  • Key technologies that define a smart grid: automation, communication, and control.
  • The integration of renewable energy sources and distributed energy resources (DER) in smart grids.

• Power Electronics in Smart Grids

  • How power electronics enable energy conversion, transmission, and distribution in smart grids.
  • The role of power electronics in voltage regulation, fault detection, and real-time monitoring.
  • Integration of smart meters, smart sensors, and real-time data for enhanced grid performance.

• Semiconductor Devices for Power Electronics

  • Types of semiconductors used in power electronics, including silicon, silicon carbide (SiC), and gallium nitride (GaN).
  • Advantages of wide-bandgap semiconductors over traditional silicon in high-performance smart grid applications.
  • Key characteristics of semiconductor devices: switching speeds, efficiency, and thermal management.

• Voltage Source Converters (VSCs)

  • The function and role of voltage source converters in smart grids.
  • VSCs for integration with renewable energy sources, energy storage systems, and HVDC transmission systems.
  • Benefits of VSCs in improving power quality and voltage stability in grid-connected systems.

• Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS)

  • Overview of FACTS devices: types and functions in power transmission systems.
  • How FACTS devices improve grid stability, power flow control, and voltage regulation.
  • The role of FACTS in managing reactive power and enhancing transmission capacity in smart grids.

• Challenges of Integrating Renewable Energy into the Grid

  • The intermittency and variability of renewable energy sources like solar and wind.
  • How power electronics mitigate the challenges of renewable energy integration into the grid.
  • The need for advanced power electronics to improve grid stability and energy management with renewables.

• Power Conversion for Renewable Energy Systems

  • The role of power electronics in converting renewable energy to usable electricity.
  • How inverters, converters, and controllers manage renewable energy outputs for integration with the grid.
  • Efficiency improvements in renewable energy conversion using power electronics.

• Energy Storage and Power Electronics

  • The role of energy storage systems (ESS) in stabilizing grid operations.
  • Power electronics for controlling charging and discharging cycles in batteries and other storage systems.
  • How ESS can be integrated with smart grids using power electronics to support grid balancing and peak shaving.

• Advanced Control Techniques

  • Introduction to control strategies for power electronics, such as model predictive control (MPC) and fuzzy logic.
  • The role of advanced control techniques in improving grid stability and power quality.
  • Real-time control and automation in smart grids using power electronics.

• Voltage and Frequency Control in Smart Grids

  • Methods for maintaining voltage and frequency stability within smart grids.
  • The role of power electronics in dynamic voltage regulation and reactive power compensation.
  • Frequency control through power electronics in hybrid grids with high renewable energy penetration.

• Real-Time Power Flow Management

  • Techniques for optimizing real-time power flow in smart grids using power electronics.
  • How power electronics devices enable load balancing and distributed generation management.
  • Integration of power electronics with advanced grid management systems for enhanced grid operations.

• Fault Detection and Protection with Power Electronics

  • The importance of fault detection and isolation in modern smart grids.
  • Power electronics solutions for real-time fault detection, fault tolerance, and protection.
  • How power electronics enhance grid resilience by rapidly identifying and isolating faults.

• Improving Grid Resilience with Power Electronics

  • Power electronics solutions for enhancing grid resilience during disturbances or failures.
  • Design strategies for fault-tolerant power electronics systems.
  • The role of power electronics in preventing cascading failures in the grid.

• Power Quality and Harmonics Mitigation

  • How power electronics improve power quality by mitigating harmonics and voltage fluctuations.
  • Use of active filters and other power electronics devices for power quality enhancement.
  • The impact of harmonics on grid performance and how power electronics address this issue.

• Emerging Technologies in Power Electronics

  • Exploration of new developments in power electronics for smart grid applications.
  • Advances in wide-bandgap semiconductor technologies (SiC and GaN) and their implications for smart grids.
  • The integration of digital technologies, artificial intelligence, and machine learning in power electronics for grid optimization.

• Power Electronics and Grid Modernization

  • How power electronics contribute to the ongoing modernization of electrical grids.
  • The role of power electronics in facilitating smart grid automation and digitalization.
  • Integrating Internet of Things (IoT) devices with power electronics for enhanced grid monitoring and control.

• Sustainability and Green Technologies in Smart Grids

  • The role of power electronics in enabling sustainable, low-carbon energy systems.
  • How power electronics contribute to achieving global sustainability and energy efficiency goals.
  • Future directions in energy technology: the role of power electronics in supporting clean energy transitions.