Trends of DC power technologies and their applications

Abstract

Renewable energy resources such as photovoltaic panels and wind turbines have been increasing rapidly to prevent global warming. The number of energy storage systems and many types of batteries is also growing to keep supply and demand balance in local areas. Interfaces of these facilities are direct current (DC). Most of modern electrical appliances also use DC power inside them. Therefore, DC power technologies with some features are expected to meet requirements for new electrical power systems, for example smartgrids, microgrids, and other electrical applications. In recent years, DC power applications in data centers, commercial buildings, and dwellings have been developed in Japan, the U.S. European countries, and so on. At the same time, international standardization activities had started. This paper describes trends of DC power technologies and their applications. © 2011 The Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan.