A backdrop of natural surroundings features alongside several transmission towers.

Power infrastructure and renewables – managing the unpredictable forces of nature

Our power infrastructure is increasingly characterized by renewable energies like wind power and photovoltaics. How do semiconductors help the power grid adapt to ensure reliability and resilience?

Energy
Renewables
Article

Oct 28, 2025

With green energy, nature sets the pace!

You flip the switch – the light goes on. Your electric car charges overnight. Data centers run non-stop, powering Artificial Intelligence and processing our data streams. And it takes a stable flow of electricity to keep it all working.

As the share of renewable energies in the power network increases, the challenge is growing more complex: We have to stabilize the electric power grid with reliable semiconductor technology and scale it to meet the growing demands of energy-intensive applications.

Infineon semiconductor solutions capture, channel and manage the unpredictable forces of nature – turning them into reliable, on-demand power. 

A visual representation of green energy.
A visual representation of green energy.
A visual representation of green energy.
1,650 GW waiting to connect
1,650 GW waiting to connect
1,650 GW waiting to connect
100,000 KM global HVDC lines
100,000 KM global HVDC lines
100,000 KM global HVDC lines
5% of eletricity is lost per year
5% of eletricity is lost per year
5% of eletricity is lost per year

Semiconductors tackle challenges in modern power grids

We expect electricity to always be available and, at the same time, to be generated by renewable sources that help to achieve our climate targets. This poses new challenges for the energy infrastructure and for the power grids in particular. After all, the electricity supply must remain reliable for all of us, despite power fluctuations, long-distance transmission, bidirectional energy flows, and energy-intensive end uses. 

Graphic HVDC
Graphic HVDC
Graphic HVDC

Power fluctuations 

Since electricity generation from renewable sources depends on weather conditions, future power grids will need to balance out fluctuations in electricity supply in order to deliver power reliably. Battery energy storage systems (BESS) and grid-forming inverters play an important role in balancing supply and demand, and in stabilizing the grid.

Private Green energy generation
Private Green energy generation
Private Green energy generation

Bidirectional energy flows

Private green energy generation, like rooftop solar panels, is growing as we aim for energy independence. Surplus privately generated energy is fed back into the distribution grid which nevertheless has to stay stable and resilient. Intelligent technologies such as 3-phase hybrid solar inverters cover self-supply with on-site energy storage capacity and thus contribute to grid stability. 

Bidirectional Energy Flow
Bidirectional Energy Flow
Bidirectional Energy Flow

Geographical gap

Electricity is often generated far from where it is consumed, requiring efficient, low-loss transmission. For offshore wind energy, HVDC technology makes it possible to transport green energy with minimum loss over hundreds of kilometers to power homes, offices, and data centers.

Data Center
Data Center
Data Center

Energy-intensive applications 

Energy intensive applications like AI data centers are on the rise. This is why Infineon is revolutionizing the power delivery architecture required for future AI data centers. In collaboration with NVIDIA, Infineon is developing the next generation of power systems based on a new architecture with central power generation of 800 V high-voltage direct current.

Spotlight on HVDC technology:

backbone of modern power infrastructure       

When green electricity needs to travel far, it takes to the highway.

  • High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmits power over hundreds of kilometers with minimal power losses compared to alternating current (AC) systems.
  • At the center of this system: offshore and onshore converter stations. They convert AC to DC for the journey via underground/subsea cables or overhead lines and convert DC back to AC at the destination.
  • HVDC transmission is typically used to interconnect two power grids or to connect remote renewable energy sources such as offshore wind farms to the main grid.

Why high-voltage direct current?

  • HVDC offers several advantages such as reduced power losses, improved controllability and grid stabilization.
  • When electricity is transmitted over long distances, some of it is lost as heat due to resistance in the wires. Increasing voltage makes it possible to decrease current, which in turn reduces the amount of energy lost as heat.

High-performance building blocks for HVDC

  • Infineon products for power conversion such as 3.3 kV, 4.5 kV and 6.5 kV IGBT modules in IHV housing or 4.5 kV Press Pack IGBT are installed in converter stations, depending on the power level and technical requirements.
  • A rough idea of the order of magnitude: More than 16,000 of Infineon 6.5 kV IGBT modules can be installed in a single 2 GW HVDC project.
Power infrastructure infographic illustrating semiconductor technology's six power grid capabilities: renewable integration, battery storage, power conversion, grid stabilization, HVDC transmission, and bidirectional energy flow
Power infrastructure infographic illustrating semiconductor technology's six power grid capabilities: renewable integration, battery storage, power conversion, grid stabilization, HVDC transmission, and bidirectional energy flow
Power infrastructure infographic illustrating semiconductor technology's six power grid capabilities: renewable integration, battery storage, power conversion, grid stabilization, HVDC transmission, and bidirectional energy flow

Solutions for a resilient and reliable power infrastructure

The electricity grid of the future will have to do more than just deliver electricity. It will have to predict and compensate for power fluctuations, protect against unexpected overloads and communicate in real time.

Hidden in the background, yet essential, semiconductors ensure that energy gets where it is needed. Infineon is driving this development forward with innovative technology at all voltage levels.

Here's what our semiconductors make possible

Infineon semiconductor solutions infographic showing 6 key applications to enable sustainable energy systems, grid reliability and optimize power infrastructure
Infineon semiconductor solutions infographic showing 6 key applications to enable sustainable energy systems, grid reliability and optimize power infrastructure
Infineon semiconductor solutions infographic showing 6 key applications to enable sustainable energy systems, grid reliability and optimize power infrastructure