# Transformers and power electronics: Relationships Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_power_electronics/links/ Every element and industry that Transformers and power electronics is linked to, and how. Each pair has its own card explaining the relationships between the two. - [AC transmission](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/ac-transmission-and-transformers-and-power-electronics/): Every AC line begins and ends at a transformer, so transformer supply now limits how fast grids can grow: prices rose about 75% since 2019 and large units take up to four years, and India missed its 2025-26 substation target by about 10%. *(researched)* - [Data centres](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/data-centres-and-transformers-and-power-electronics/): Every data centre sits behind a chain of transformers, switchgear, uninterruptible power supplies and converters, so its build-out competes with utilities for the same scarce equipment. US power transformer supply fell about 30% short of demand in 2025, with lead times of up to four years, and AI racks are now pushing a shift to 800 V DC power distribution. *(researched)* - [Steel](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/steel-and-transformers-and-power-electronics/): Most transformer cores are built from grain-oriented electrical steel (CRGO or GOES), a speciality grade made by few mills that is about a fifth of a transformer's cost. India imports most of what it uses, so CRGO supply and trade rules directly affect how fast it can expand its grid. *(researched)* - [Copper](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/copper-and-transformers-and-power-electronics/): Large power transformers are wound with copper, and since 2019 a surge in grid and generation demand has pushed US power transformer prices up about 77% and lead times past two years, with copper and electrical steel among the supply constraints. *(researched)* - [Semiconductors](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/semiconductors-and-transformers-and-power-electronics/): Power chips, silicon IGBTs and MOSFETs and newer silicon carbide devices, are the switches inside every inverter, drive and charger, so the power electronics build-out for EVs, solar and data centres is a demand driver for a distinct part of the chip industry; in return, chip fabs depend on precision power supplies to run their tools. *(researched)* - [Distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/distribution-grids-mini-grids-and-interconnectors-and-transformers-and-power-electronics/): Energy flows from distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors to transformers and power electronics; energy flows from transformers and power electronics to distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors; their prices have moved together. - [Capacitors and supercapacitors](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/capacitors-and-supercapacitors-and-transformers-and-power-electronics/): Energy flows from capacitors and supercapacitors to transformers and power electronics; energy flows from transformers and power electronics to capacitors and supercapacitors. - [Electric motors and drives](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/electric-motors-and-drives-and-transformers-and-power-electronics/): Energy flows from transformers and power electronics to electric motors and drives; their prices have moved together. - [Electrical loss reduction](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/electrical-loss-reduction-and-transformers-and-power-electronics/): Energy flows from transformers and power electronics to electrical loss reduction; energy flows from electrical loss reduction to transformers and power electronics. - [Generators and alternators](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/generators-and-alternators-and-transformers-and-power-electronics/): Energy flows from generators and alternators to transformers and power electronics; their prices have moved together. - [HVDC links](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/hvdc-links-and-transformers-and-power-electronics/): Energy flows from HVDC links to transformers and power electronics; their prices have moved together. - [Lithium iron phosphate batteries](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/lithium-iron-phosphate-batteries-and-transformers-and-power-electronics/): Energy flows from lithium iron phosphate batteries to transformers and power electronics; energy flows from transformers and power electronics to lithium iron phosphate batteries. - [Other and primary batteries](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/other-and-primary-batteries-and-transformers-and-power-electronics/): Energy flows from other and primary batteries to transformers and power electronics; energy flows from transformers and power electronics to other and primary batteries. - [Sodium-ion batteries](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/sodium-ion-batteries-and-transformers-and-power-electronics/): Energy flows from sodium-ion batteries to transformers and power electronics; energy flows from transformers and power electronics to sodium-ion batteries. - [Superconducting magnetic storage](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/superconducting-magnetic-storage-and-transformers-and-power-electronics/): Energy flows from superconducting magnetic storage to transformers and power electronics; energy flows from transformers and power electronics to superconducting magnetic storage. - [Aluminium](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/aluminium-and-transformers-and-power-electronics/): Their prices have moved together. - [Data centres and cloud](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/data-centres-and-cloud-and-transformers-and-power-electronics/): Data centres and cloud depends on transformers and power electronics. - [Electric and hybrid vehicles](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/electric-and-hybrid-vehicles-and-transformers-and-power-electronics/): Energy flows from transformers and power electronics to electric and hybrid vehicles. - [Electrical equipment](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/electrical-equipment-and-transformers-and-power-electronics/): Electrical equipment depends on transformers and power electronics. - [Electrolysers](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/electrolysers-and-transformers-and-power-electronics/): Energy flows from transformers and power electronics to electrolysers. - [Energy in buildings](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/energy-in-buildings-and-transformers-and-power-electronics/): Energy flows from transformers and power electronics to energy in buildings. - [Flow batteries](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/flow-batteries-and-transformers-and-power-electronics/): Energy flows from flow batteries to transformers and power electronics. - [Flywheels and small mechanical stores](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/flywheels-and-small-mechanical-stores-and-transformers-and-power-electronics/): Energy flows from flywheels and small mechanical stores to transformers and power electronics. - [Gallium](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/gallium-and-transformers-and-power-electronics/): Transformers and power electronics needs gallium. - [High-temperature batteries](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/high-temperature-batteries-and-transformers-and-power-electronics/): Energy flows from high-temperature batteries to transformers and power electronics. - [Lead-acid batteries](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/lead-acid-batteries-and-transformers-and-power-electronics/): Energy flows from transformers and power electronics to lead-acid batteries. - [Lighting and displays](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/lighting-and-displays-and-transformers-and-power-electronics/): Their prices have moved together. - [Machinery and equipment](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/machinery-and-equipment-and-transformers-and-power-electronics/): Machinery and equipment depends on transformers and power electronics. - [Metal-air batteries](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/metal-air-batteries-and-transformers-and-power-electronics/): Energy flows from metal-air batteries to transformers and power electronics. - [Next-generation lithium batteries](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/next-generation-lithium-batteries-and-transformers-and-power-electronics/): Energy flows from transformers and power electronics to next-generation lithium batteries. - [Nickel-based batteries](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/nickel-based-batteries-and-transformers-and-power-electronics/): Energy flows from transformers and power electronics to nickel-based batteries. - [Nickel-rich lithium-ion batteries](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/nickel-rich-lithium-ion-batteries-and-transformers-and-power-electronics/): Energy flows from transformers and power electronics to nickel-rich lithium-ion batteries. - [Offshore wind](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/offshore-wind-and-transformers-and-power-electronics/): Energy flows from offshore wind to transformers and power electronics. - [Onshore wind](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/onshore-wind-and-transformers-and-power-electronics/): Energy flows from onshore wind to transformers and power electronics. - [Rail traction](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/rail-traction-and-transformers-and-power-electronics/): Their prices have moved together. - [Silicon](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/silicon-and-transformers-and-power-electronics/): Transformers and power electronics needs silicon. - [Solar photovoltaics](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/solar-photovoltaics-and-transformers-and-power-electronics/): Energy flows from solar photovoltaics to transformers and power electronics. - [Telecommunications](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/telecommunications-and-transformers-and-power-electronics/): Telecommunications depends on transformers and power electronics. - [Tin](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/tin-and-transformers-and-power-electronics/): Their prices have moved together. - [Underground, submarine and superconducting cables](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/transformers-and-power-electronics-and-underground-submarine-and-superconducting-cables/): Their prices have moved together. - [Water and sanitation](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/transformers-and-power-electronics-and-water-and-sanitation/): Water and sanitation depends on transformers and power electronics. ## Other sections - [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_power_electronics/index.md) - [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_power_electronics/overview/index.md) - [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_power_electronics/correlation/index.md) - [Science and limits](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_power_electronics/science/index.md) - [Value chain](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_power_electronics/valuechain/index.md) - [Unit economics](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_power_electronics/economics/index.md) - [Engineering methods](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_power_electronics/methods/index.md) - [Equipment and suppliers](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_power_electronics/equipment/index.md)