Solar power adapter now available for solar panels, batteries, electric vehicles, and microgrids

In the world of renewable energy, a new player is making waves with its innovative technology: solid-state transformers. Haroon Inam, CEO and co-founder of DG Matrix, announced that his company raised $20 million in March and is building a factory in North Carolina to produce up to 1,000 units annually.

The traditional power grid relies heavily on electromechanical devices that operate in relatively simple ways, much like they did a century ago. However, DG Matrix's solid-state transformer offers a significant upgrade. It simplifies the process of quickly mixing and matching devices or changing the configuration of systems at data centers, EV charging hubs, and other potential microgrid sites.

DG Matrix aims to serve the commercial and industrial microgrid market, an area that has been notoriously expensive to build individual microgrids. The company's solid-state transformer could potentially cost half as much as using the standard mix of multiple technologies to connect the components of a typical on-site microgrid.

Eaton's critical power solutions business has been working on solid-state transformers for years, but DG Matrix's technology stands out for its ability to handle multiple power sources from a single device, controlling electricity as nimbly as routers control the flow of data.

Other companies are also making strides in solid-state transformer technology. For instance, Heron Power, another startup, has raised $43 million in funding with the goal of building its first solid-state transformers in 2027. Amperesand, another player, raised $12.5 million last year to continue developing solid-state transformers being tested on Singapore's power grid.

Electrical equipment giant Eaton agreed to acquire Resilient Power Systems, a company that raised $5 million in 2021 to build and deploy its power-conversion devices for EV charging hubs and other energy-hungry settings. Eaton will spend $55 million on the company on closing, with additional payments potentially totaling another $95 million.

In Germany, Siemens is a key company developing and manufacturing transformers, including advanced digital and power transformers. However, specific companies explicitly developing solid-state transformers were not directly identified. Universities like Technische Universität Dresden and Hochschule für Technik, Wirtschaft und Kultur Leipzig, supported by government funding, are involved in high-tech developments including semiconductor technologies, critical for solid-state transformers, aiming to strengthen the regional ecosystem. No exact solid-state transformer availability dates were mentioned.

The technology could help manage power demand from data centers, factories, and electric-vehicle charging hubs, potentially reducing the need to burn fossil fuels. DG Matrix is testing its solid-state transformers with companies such as ABB, Duke Energy, and PowerSecure.

With solid-state transformers starting to hit the market, the future of renewable energy looks promising. These transformers offer a solution for connecting solar panels, battery systems, and on-site generators to high-powered equipment like EV chargers or data center servers, making the transition to renewable energy more efficient and cost-effective.

Vlatko Vlatkovic, a partner at DG Matrix investor Clean Energy Ventures, joined the startup's board of directors this year, further solidifying DG Matrix's position in the solid-state transformer market. As more companies enter this space, it will be interesting to see how the technology evolves and how it can revolutionize the way we generate, distribute, and consume electricity.

Solar power adapter now available for solar panels, batteries, electric vehicles, and microgrids