Transformers and power electronics
Equipment that changes voltage and switches between AC and DC.
Conversion and use · Conversion devices · No. 101
- Conversion and use
Grid transformers waste under 1% of their power, yet prices rose about 75% since 2019 and some take four years.
Chart: Illustration: Transformers and power electronics
Where it comes from
Chart: Map of where it comes from
Transformers swap voltage through a shared iron core, while fast semiconductor switches turn AC into DC and back for solar, batteries and motors.
Three things to know
- Huawei and Sungrow shipped about 55% of the world's solar inverters in 2024.
- A standard 2,500 kVA transformer loses 2,782 W even with no load, about 24.4 MWh a year (calculated).
- Motor drives run at 95 to 97% at full load but only 35 to 61% at very light load.
The journey
- 1 GeneratorAC electricity at one voltage
- 2 TransformerSteps voltage up or down
- 3 RectifierTurns AC into DC
- 4 InverterMakes AC at any chosen frequency
- 5 End useSolar farms, motors, chargers, data centres