How Intelligence, IoT, and Power Electronics Are Reshaping Energy 

From solid‑state transformers to silicon carbide and commercial‑scale storage, the grid’s future is connected, predictive, and efficient.  

Dive into the article to learn more.  

Introduction 

The electric grid is changing. Variable renewables, the rise of EVs, and the demand for real‑time resilience are pushing utilities from reactive operations to predictive, data‑driven strategies. In our recent panel discussion, engineers Cody Tudor, John Parker, Riccardo Collura, and mediator Lazina Rahman, explored the technologies powering a connected, intelligent, and sustainable grid. 

This article is based on the insights explored during the panel.  

Panelists 

Why Must the Grid Evolve? 

The legacy grid was built for one-way power flow, predictable supply, and stable demand. 

It served a world where consumption patterns were easy to forecast and fossil fuels powered generation, making supply control simple but critically damaging for the environment. 

Today, that world is increasingly rare.  

Energy use keeps rising and becoming less predictable as homes and devices become more power-hungry. Demand keeps surging. Meanwhile, climate change requires us to find cleaner energy sources. 

Renewables changed the game. Solar and wind offer clean, efficient power and allow consumers to generate energy at home. This makes the grid a two-way system, not a one-way street. 

Instead of matching generation to demand, utilities now match demand to variable generation because solar and wind fluctuate with weather. 

Add EVs to the mix, and…  

Charging an EV can double household consumption. At scale, millions of uncontrolled charging events stress transformers and distribution lines. 

So renewable energies and EVs offer cleaner alternatives, yes, but they deliver new challenges too. However, going back to fossil fuels isn’t an option. And demand isn’t dropping anytime soon. So how do we adapt? We evolve. 

That means grids need smart technology: sensors, automation, and demand-response programs to manage unpredictable supply and demand. 

In short: 

The grid must evolve from a rigid, one-way system to a flexible, two-way network that can: 

• Handle power from many sources (including homes). 

• Manage unpredictable demand (like EV Charging). 

• Support clean energy goals. 

This is possible today. Here’s how. 

Solid‑State Transformers (SSTs) 

Solid‑state transformers (SSTs) are a major technology trend and one of the most exciting developments in power engineering.  

Traditional transformers relied on heavy iron cores and copper windings to step voltage up or down. A heavy, slow, and bulky system that does not provide much intelligence.  

SSTs could change that. Replace iron cores with advanced electronics and semiconductors like silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN), and now you’re able to convert power more efficiently and with built-in intelligence. 

This emerging trend is still at an early pilot stage of development, and adoption is still limited by cost, standards, and high-power efficiency tradeoffs. However, its great potential opens an exciting path for the near future.  

RELATED: Microchip Silicon Carbide (SiC) Devices and Modules 

RELATED: onsemi Silicon Carbide (SiC) JFETs 

What makes SSTs so special? 

• Sensors and control are now embedded directly in the transformer. This means utilities can monitor voltage, load, and efficiency in real time without the need for extra monitoring devices. 

• They’re smaller, lighter, and cooler thanks to wide-bandgap semiconductors, which switch faster and waste less energy. 

• They enable smart grid functions like dynamic voltage control, renewable integration, and EV charging management. 

Why does this matter? 

• Utilities get granular visibility at each node (substation, distribution point). 

• SSTs make the grid more flexible and efficient, enabling its evolution.  

Smart Metering and Solid‑State Circuit Breakers 

Smart meters have come a long way. From manual reads to drive-by radio scans, and now to pole-mounted wireless nodes.  

So, what’s next? 

How about the capacity to monitor real-time data as per circuit (such as understanding how much energy your HVAC uses versus your lights).  

Well, but you would have to be plugged into each and every appliance in a home, right? and what does this mean for privacy… no one wants the utility company knowing just when they’re making toast. 

Well, by pairing smart meters with solid state circuit breakers (SSCBs), your toast making patterns can remain private while still delivering the granular data needed for demand response and predictive analytics. 

Think of SSCBs as smart traffic lights for electricity. They watch each lane (circuit) and report usage without peeking inside your fridge or stove. This solves privacy concerns while giving utilities the data they need to keep the grid stable and efficient. 

This is not yet of widespread use, however. SSCBs are much more commonly found in data centers, industrial panels, or select residential use cases. But as the technology continues to evolve, the number of applications it pertains will only continue to grow.  

RELATED: Smart Grid & Metering: Trends & Opportunities 

Why does this matter? 

• More precise data for planning and demand response. 

• Privacy stays intact. No appliance-level monitoring. 

• Smarter grids mean fewer outages and better energy management. 

Energy Storage Systems (ESS) 

When renewables came into the conversation decades and decades ago, sceptics were quick to ask, “How do we keep the power on when the sun isn’t shining?” Well, we store it, of course. Not the sun and the wind, but the energy they produce.  

Of course, at the time, this was a challenge, as it required reimagined possibilities, and the questions of how much of it can you really store.  

Flash forward to today and we have some answers.  

Energy Storage Systems across the world are growing massively. Literally. Today, we can find solutions in the market in the shape of huge trailers, 10 meters long, like the ones you’d see on the back of a truck. Each one capable of powering thousands of homes for hours (depending on load profile and duration). 

These systems sit next to data centers and factories, providing backup power and soaking up extra renewable energy when it’s available. 

Modern systems can store and deliver up to 10 to 50 MWh, with the trend continuing to grow.  

RELATED: Energy Storage Future Trends 

There are two main types: 

• Battery-based systems (BESS): Lithium-ion and other chemistries. 

• Alternative storage: Like molten sodium heat storage for huge installations. 

Why does this matter? 

• Energy storage is the key to making renewables reliable. 

• Wide-bandgap semiconductors (SiC, GaN) make power conversion efficient and responsive, allowing these systems to couple seamlessly with the grid. 

IoT 

In the process of creating this enhanced grid, IoT becomes our best friend. IoT is the nervous system of our living grid. Sensors and connections spread everywhere, from transformers to EV chargers. These sensors watch for: 

• Voltage and current changes 

• Overheating or vibration 

• Weather shifts 

• Even hydrogen leaks in, for example, industrial or large-scale storage applications 

Why does this matter?  

• Sensors and connectivity help catch problems early, and catching problems early helps prevent disasters.  

However, 

For IoT to work, sensors need to talk to each other. They achieve this through Ethernet or cellular networks with backup links and precise timing.  

But with connectivity comes risk, so security is critical. Minimum safeguards include: 

• Strong authentication and encryption.  

• Hardened architectures and secure firmware updates.  

• Closed systems for critical infrastructure to prevent catastrophic breaches.  

When utility‑scale outages are unacceptable; security‑by‑design is mandatory. 

Digital Twins & AI Analytics 

Reimagining the grid means we can do anything we can think of. Aim for the stars, or for a world where the grid is so smart, that it can predict and prevent issues before they occur, and outages are easily preventable. Of course, this is too good to be true. Just using our imagination, right?  

Except…  

We’ve been talking about the technologies that make the grid smarter and more connected. How these help achieve clean, resilient, sustainable efficiency.  

Well, a smart, connected grid also enables two key technologies:  

1. Digital twins 

• A digital twin is a virtual copy of a physical asset or network (like a substation or transformer). 

• It simulates how the real system behaves, so utilities can test scenarios and plan maintenance without touching the actual equipment. 

2. AI Analytics 

• AI monitors data from the grid to spot anomalies, forecast demand, and trigger backup systems before something fails. 

• This means fewer outages and better efficiency. 

What makes this work? 

• Real-time synchronization across substations (using precise timing protocols like PTP). 

• Modern connectivity (Ethernet plus cellular for redundancy). 

• Hardware + software co-design:  

• Choosing the right processors. 

• Using chips with AI accelerators for fast edge processing. 

• Development tools and SDKs that make it easy to train and deploy models from edge devices to the cloud. 

In short: 

• Modernization isn’t just about new hardware—it’s about adding intelligence to the grid. 

• Digital twins = virtual models for planning and predictive maintenance. 

• AI analytics = real-time monitoring and forecasting. 

• Together, they make the grid proactive instead of reactive.  

Imagine that. 

The Grid, Reimagined 

The grid of the future is possible today.  

A self-optimizing, clean, reliable, resilient, and secure grid that dynamically routes power, balances loads, and minimizes operator intervention. One that is built for the world of today, and is ready for the world of tomorrow.  

This reimagined grid requires three pillars:   

• Intelligent Edge: SSTs, SSCBs, and sensors deliver trustworthy, real‑time data.  

• Predictive Intelligence: Digital twins and AI analytics convert data into foresight.  

• Efficient Power Electronics: SiC and next‑gen GaN make conversion dense, cool, and reliable. 

Incentives, education, and ecosystem collaboration will accelerate adoption. As our panel concluded, the grid’s transformation is already underway; the winners will be those who integrate hardware and software, secure the stack end‑to‑end, and design for flexibility and scalability in a world where generation and demand constantly change.   

Get Expert Support

Design for the grid of the future. Contact our engineers for expert guidance from start to finish.