Applications and Services of Solid-State Transformers in Active Distribution Networks—A Critical Review
Distribution systems have traditionally received the least attention in the bulk picture of power systems; they are yet the most "critical component" as they directly impact customers’ perception and utilities’ reputation. While transmission systems have seen abundant literature, innovations, and applications of power electronic-based devices to optimize their performance, distribution systems still require more attention toward a flexible and dynamic scheme to cope with volatile energy consumption and production. As a replacement or enhancement of the traditional ones, Solid-State Transformers can play a central role in the energy management of distribution systems towards this goal, in addition to the mere voltage conversion. This manuscript, developed within the IEEE Task Force on Solid-State Transformer integration in distribution grids, offers a critical review of the Solid-State Transformer potential, services, and technical challenges for its integration in distribution systems. Particular attention is given to scientific trends and open points in the current research that must be addressed before utilities extensively integrate the Solid-State Transformer in distribution systems.
Authors
- Rafael Peña‐Alzola (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2451-6779)
- V M Hrishikesan
- Ali Bidram (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4722-4346)
- Sebastian Brueske (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8034-529X)
- Giovanni De Carne (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3700-2902)
- Sanjeev Pannala (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3839-5904)
- Haoran Ji
- Martina Joševski
- Marco Liserre (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0818-2684)
- Ilknur Colak (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4223-852X)
- Mazheruddin Syed (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3147-0817)
- Chandan Kumar (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4856-6578)
- Masoud Davoudi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9269-2419)
- Felix Wald (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5811-878X)
- Oriol Gomis‐Bellmunt (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9507-8278)
Institutions
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (DE)
- Schneider Electric (France) (FR)
- Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IN)
- General Electric (United States) (US)
- Eaton (Taiwan) (TW)
- Tianjin University (CN)
- University of New Mexico (US)
- University of Strathclyde (GB)
- UK Energy Research Centre (GB)
- Pacific Environment (US)
- Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (DE)
- Eaton (United States) (US)
- Maschinenfabrik Reinhausen (Germany) (DE)
- Siemens (Denmark) (DK)
- Eaton (Germany) (DE)
- Washington State University (US)
- Acciona (Spain) (ES)
- Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (ES)
Publication Details
- Journal
- IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid
- Published
- 2025-05-28
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1109/tsg.2025.3574007
- Citations
- 7
- Primary Topic
- Islanding Detection in Power Systems
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 5.11
Funders
- Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft