Advanced Applications of Smart Power Technologies and Wide-Bandgap Semiconductors

A special issue of Electronics (ISSN 2079-9292). This special issue belongs to the section "Power Electronics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 January 2026 | Viewed by 485

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Information Engineering, Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy, Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria, Via Salita Melissari, 89124 Reggio Calabria, Italy
Interests: power electronics; wide-bandgap semiconductors; energy systems; semiconductor device modelling; device physics; TCAD simulations
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, wide bandgap (WBG) semiconductors and, in particular, silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) have been extensively proposed for power systems to improve current and future power electronics in different fields, such as industrial, automotive, aerospace, and energy conversion. Compared with conventional technologies, WBG semiconductors promise the realization of smaller, faster, more efficient, and rugged devices with low losses and high levels of quality and safety. However, the design and electrical characterization of WBG-based devices for smart power and advanced applications impose the deployment of intensive experimental and modelling efforts for the analysis of the critical aspects of their operation under specific bias conditions, especially in high-voltage, high-frequency, and high-temperature circuits.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Application area of WBG semiconductors;
  • SiC- and GaN-based devices;
  • Novel design and modelling approaches;
  • Heterojunction structures;
  • Analysis of the material physical properties;   
  • Smart power technologies;
  • Power generation;
  • Power conversion systems;
  • Power optimizers;
  • Energy harvesting;
  • Relevant experimental results;
  • Advanced technological processes.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Fortunato Pezzimenti
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • smart power
  • wide-bandgap semiconductor
  • switching device
  • field-effect transistor
  • breakdown voltage
  • series resistance
  • temperature
  • numerical simulation

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

24 pages, 3264 KB  
Article
Development of a New Solid State Fault Current Limiter for Effective Fault Current Limitation in Wind-Integrated Grids
by Mohamed S. A. Zayed, Hossam E. M. Attia, Manal M. Emara, Diaa-Eldin A. Mansour and Hany Abdelfattah
Electronics 2025, 14(20), 4054; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics14204054 - 15 Oct 2025
Viewed by 326
Abstract
The increasing penetration of wind energy into modern power grids introduces new challenges, particularly regarding fault current levels and voltage stability during disturbances. This study proposes and evaluates a new Solid State Fault Current Limiter (SSFCL) topology for mitigating the adverse effects of [...] Read more.
The increasing penetration of wind energy into modern power grids introduces new challenges, particularly regarding fault current levels and voltage stability during disturbances. This study proposes and evaluates a new Solid State Fault Current Limiter (SSFCL) topology for mitigating the adverse effects of faults in wind-integrated power systems. The proposed SSFCL consists of a bridge section and a shunt branch, designed to limit fault current while maintaining power quality. Unlike conventional SSFCLs, the proposed topology incorporates both DC and AC reactors with an Integrated Gate-Commutated Thyristor (IGCT) switch, to provide current limiting and voltage stabilization, effectively mitigating the negative impacts of faults. A comprehensive MATLAB/Simulink-based simulation is conducted on a realistic grid model. First, appropriate AC and DC reactor impedances are selected to balance fault current suppression, cost, and dynamic response. Then, three fault scenarios, transmission line, distribution grid, and domestic network, are analyzed to assess the fault current limiting performance and voltage sag mitigation of the SSFCL. In the simulation analysis, the DC reactor current and the voltage across the SSFCL device are continuously monitored to evaluate its dynamic response and effectiveness during fault and normal operating conditions. In addition, the fault current contribution from the wind farm is assessed with and without the integration of the SSFCL, along with the voltage profile at the Point of Common Coupling (PCC), to determine the limiter’s impact on system stability and power quality. Finally, the performance of the proposed SSFCL is compared to that of the resistive-type superconducting fault current limiter (R-SFCL) under identical fault scenarios to assess the technical and economic standpoints of the proposed SSFCL. Simulation results show that the SSFCL reduces the peak fault current by up to 29% and improves the voltage profile at the PCC by up to 42%, providing comparable performance to the R-SFCL while avoiding the need for cryogenic systems. Full article
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