Sustainable Power Electronics

Power electronics (PE) plays an important role in terms of security of supply, reliability and efficiency in our future sustainable energy systems. In this joint research project with TU Braunschweig-IMAB and industry partners, we are exploring sustainable PE solutions. We analyze and quantify the potential environmental impact of PE units with a focus on manufacturing and recycling. We consider the following research questions: What rare and valuable materials are wasted when a unit reaches the end of its life and is disposed of in the conventional way? How can we build PE systems so that reuse and ultimately recycling is economical and resource efficient?