Interconnection of residential buildings using solid-state power electronic converters

One of the key challenges facing the UK electrical Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) today is the increasing demand for power being placed on residential networks e.g. general load growth, the proliferation of electrical vehicles (EVs) and electrified heat. At the same time, there are problems associated with an increase in the connection of distributed generation (DG) and energy storage devices. The aim of this project is to provide a significant increase in capacity over the existing infrastructure by increasing the local network voltage and/or distributing DC. This will be achieved by the deployment of DNO-owned, low-cost, high-efficiency power electronic converters (PECs) installed at individual properties and a local substation converter for DC distribution. The performance that these PECs need can only be achieved using new Silicon Carbide (SiC) semiconductor switching devices. However, the cost of existing commercially available SiC is very high, which conflicts with the need for low-cost. Therefore this project will consider a new, highly innovative fabrication technique for SiC power devices. The proposed system will not only provide an increase in the capacity of the existing network, but will also provide flexible, optimised connections for emerging EV charging, DG and energy storage devices..