| Abstract |
Energy saving, improved energy efficiency and environmental protection are ubiquitous topics in
society, in Europe and globally. Despite many efforts to save energy, demand for electricity is
expected to grow and much faster in comparison with other energy sources over the next three
decades. Today 40% of all energy consumption is in electrical energy, but this will grow to 60% by
2040. On the other side, the share of electrical energy which will be controlled by power electronics
e.g. in variable speed drives will increase from 40% in 2000 to 80% in 2015.
Power electronics is the key technology to control the flow of electrical energy from the source to the
load precisely according the requirements of the load. It is responsible for the reliability and stability of
the whole power supply infrastructure in Europe from the sources, the energy transmission and
distribution up to the huge variety of applications in industry, transportation systems and the home &
office appliances.
But in spite of the tremendous importance of power electronics, there is a lack of awareness for the
role of power electronics in the modern industrial society, even in the well informed general public. |
