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EVs and Security and Heat Waves, Oh My! Facing the US’s Power Grid Issues

From freezing temperatures to blazing heat, the US power grid is under a massive amount of strain. If it can't handle the weather, how will it handle EVs?

July 21, 2021 by Tyler Charboneau

Ousting 1900s-era Tech? Solid-state Circuit Breakers Extract DC from AC without Magnetics

Extracting DC from AC without any magnetics at all? A new solid-state circuit breaker put forth by Amber Solutions in partnership with Infineon Technologies stands to cause some pretty intense waves by displacing the nearly century-old technology upon which our electrical infrastructure is built.

July 06, 2021 by Kate Smith

Home EV Charging and “Energy Independence”: Meet myenergi Lead Engineer Robin Richard

Pessimism about renewables, Meet Robin Richard, the lead engineer for myenergi, a company hoping to make renewable infrastructure accessible to all.

July 05, 2021 by Ingrid Fadelli

IoT Energy Harvesting Challenges: e-peas Tackles It Head-on with New PMICs

With its new PMIC, e-peas hopes to enable more performant energy harvesting for IoT devices. But to do so, what are the challenges that come with IoT energy harvesting?

June 18, 2021 by Jake Hertz

From GaN to Energy Storage: APEC is Back for 2021

Kicking off today until June 17th is the Applied Power Electronics Conference (APEC). What presenters and innovative topics are on this year's agenda?

June 14, 2021 by Tyler Charboneau

“Smart” Power Lines? ST’s SoC and RF Chipset Get Industry-first Certification

The G3-PLC hybrid standard ensures interoperability and is key to STMicroelectronics delivering competitive market solutions for power line communications.

June 03, 2021 by Adrian Gibbons

The Future of Photovoltaics Is Organic: A Conversation with KAUST’s Dr. Thomas Anthopoulos

Meet Dr. Thomas Anthopoulos, Professor of Material Science & Engineering at KAUST Solar Center, who navigates the "materials zoo" to find the best path forward for some of the most promising photovoltaics in the world: organic PVs.

May 31, 2021 by Ingrid Fadelli

Concrete Batteries: Cementing a New Foundation for Energy Storage?

In a newly published paper, researchers from Chalmers University describe how they were able to turn cement into a medium for electrical energy storage.

May 28, 2021 by Jake Hertz

From CMOS to Batteries: Past Space Tech Improved Earth Applications

Pushing technological limitations to extremes can cause benefits beyond its original scope. Looking back at past space technology, it is clear the effects they have had here on Earth.

May 19, 2021 by Tyler Charboneau

In Search of the Next Top Semiconductor: Cuprous Oxide vs. Silicon

Semiconductor materials vying for silicon's crown are everywhere, it seems. One substrate that's been in research for many years is cuprous oxide. Is it a blip on the radar or the next heir apparent?

May 08, 2021 by Ikimi .O

Underwater HVDC-based Grid: Pushing the Limits of Power Transmission

Establishing an underwater power grid is no easy feat, though researchers and companies like ABB and Siemens can see the potential benefits.

May 04, 2021 by Rushi Patel

Could Microgrids Be a Safety Net for Future Power Outage Disasters?

The February blackouts in Texas spurred hot debate on the best way to avoid infrastructural power issues. Microgrids are one such proposal.

April 23, 2021 by Biljana Ognenova

In Celebration of Earth Day: IoT May be the “Greenest” Type of Embedded Design

With the rise of edge computing, companies and researchers alike are doubling down on sustainability—from tracking endangered harbor seals to monitoring crop growth.

April 23, 2021 by Jake Hertz

Understanding the New Offshore Wind Farms Initiative

An ambitious $3 billion plan may greatly expand American wind-farm output to 30 GW by 2030. What details of this plan might involve engineers and the renewables market at large?

April 07, 2021 by Tyler Charboneau

Keeping Wearables Cool: Non-metallic Material Radiates Heat From Users, Circuitry, and the Sun

Thermal design is especially delicate in wearable devices. Here are a few ways researchers are tackling the issue—the most recent turning to materials science.

March 20, 2021 by Jake Hertz

E-textiles: Pipe Dream or Future Reality?

E-textile research is common, but efforts to commercialize this technology are not. With setbacks like a reliable power supply and safety, will e-textiles ever make a significant market debut?

March 19, 2021 by Rushi Patel

Grid Outages in Texas Spark Discussion on the Challenges of Renewable Energy Integration

Freezing temperatures and rolling blackouts have spurred discussion on whether renewable energy grid integration may be a safety net for future outages. Design-level challenges, however, make this endeavor more complicated than it may seem.

February 19, 2021 by Antonio Anzaldua Jr.

Can Solar Electric Vehicles (sEVs) Actually Become a Reality?

One of the prevailing issues with solar electric vehicles (sEVs) is range. What design obstacles must be overcome to make this future vehicle tech a widespread reality?

February 05, 2021 by Steve Arar

2021 Starts With a Hot Streak for Silicon Carbide

From industry to academia, silicon carbide has been making headlines in the first month of 2021.

January 31, 2021 by Jake Hertz

Energy Harvesting Spotlight: Maxim Claims “Smallest Solar Harvesting Solution”

IoT designers are commonly plagued with the issue of long-term deployment. Energy-harvesting paradigms, including a new solar harvesting device from Maxim, may be a promising supplement to battery cells.

January 18, 2021 by Adrian Gibbons