Electronics Sourcing Electronica 2024 Special
Visitors to TTI Europe’s electronica 2024 stand can explore how the company’s product portfolio and technical expertise are helping the world electrify
Electrical energy generation is a cornerstone of modern society, powering homes, industries, and the very fabric of our daily lives. As the world shifts to sustainable practices, the energy sector is moving away from reliance on fossil fuels and toward renewable sources like wind, solar and hydroelectric power.
One of the most significant hurdles in adopting renewable energy is its variable nature. Unlike fossil fuels, which can be burned at any time to meet demand, renewable energy generation is subject to the whims of nature. Solar panels produce electricity only when the sun shines and wind turbines are effective only when the wind blows. This intermittency can lead to periods where the supply of renewable energy is either insufficient or exceeds demand.
The increasing number of EVs also places additional demand on the electricity grid. As more people charge their cars, especially during peak hours, the grid must be able to handle this increased load without compromising stability. Smart charging solutions, which allow EVs to be charged at optimal times, and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technologies, which enable EVs to feed energy back into the grid, are potential solutions to help manage this demand.
In addition, a network of charging stations that are as ubiquitous and convenient as petrol stations needs to be established. To support the rollout of ultra-fast charging equipment, TTI Europe offers a range of power supply, HV contactor and MCS charging solutions.
For the energy grid to become more flexible and intelligent, advanced forecasting tools and demand-response strategies are needed to predict and respond to fluctuations in supply and demand. Energy storage systems using banks of batteries are being used to capture excess energy during periods of high production and release it during shortages. However, one of the primary concerns with battery storage is its capacity and longevity.
Batteries degrade over time, losing their ability to hold a charge. This degradation can be accelerated by factors such as high temperatures, overcharging and deep discharging. Safety is another critical issue for battery storage systems. New developments in sensor and HV connector technologies and TTI Europe’s expanded discrete semiconductor portfolio, which now includes diodes, MOSFETs, LEDs and IGBTs, enable engineers to mitigate these issues.
As the energy sector evolves, new innovations are being driven by renewable energy generation, infrastructure development and storage solutions. Among these, hydrogen is emerging as a promising alternative energy carrier. While steam methane reforming has long been the go-to method for hydrogen production, there’s a growing interest in harnessing renewable energy sources to produce green hydrogen through water electrolysis.
Simultaneously, a concerted effort is being made to store it in a way that maximises energy density while ensuring safety and minimising losses. The sector is also exploring efficient transportation methods, such as pipelines or liquid organic hydrogen carriers, that have a reduced environmental impact.
As well as energy storage, hydrogen also has the potential to decarbonise sectors that are difficult to electrify. For example, heavy industries, such as steel and cement production, can utilise hydrogen as a clean fuel to reduce their carbon footprint significantly. With its high energy density, hydrogen fuel cell technology is particularly promising for heavy-duty and long-range transportation, such as trucks and buses. However, the necessary hydrogen refuelling stations must exist along road networks. Again, small-scale, remote green hydrogen production is becoming a viable option to support this need.
The evolution of the energy sector towards sustainability presents a complex array of problems but also a wealth of opportunities for innovation. Engineers play a pivotal role in this transition, applying their skills to create resilient and sustainable energy systems for the future.
TTI Europe continues to expand its technical specialist design support services and IP&E offerings. TTI’s technical specialists are electronic/electrical qualified engineers with deep design experience within their technology expertise and can support application needs by providing impartial support and guidance from the world’s leading manufacturers. During electronica 2024, visitors to the TTI Europe stand (C3.578) will have the opportunity to learn about innovative technologies from TTI Europe’s manufacturing partners.