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Turning a ray of sunshine into a cup of hot coffee

Electricity is central to our lives, whether in cooking, lighting, mobility or chatting with AI. But managing the increasing demand for electricity in a CO2-neutral manner means we have to rely on renewables like photovoltaic and wind power.

Power infrastructure
Renewables
Article

Mar 31, 2026

The energy transition relies on renewables

We start our day with a cup of hot coffee or tea. Working from home, we sneak back into the kitchen a few hours later to open the refrigerator for a snack. In the morning, we do some online research to finalize a presentation. Around noon we use the rice cooker to make a quick lunch. All these applications have one thing in common: They need electricity to function.

Electricity is becoming increasingly central to our lives. We rely on it for all our everyday needs. Artificial intelligence, the electrification of industrial processes, the expansion of electromobility, and increasing demand for building cooling due to climate change are contributing to rising demand.

The IEA predicts an increase of 5,400 TWh in global electricity consumption over the next five years, reaching about 33,600 TWh.

global-electricity-consumption
global-electricity-consumption
global-electricity-consumption

Electrical energy is the highest-quality and most flexible form of energy because we can easily convert electricity into light, motion and heat. But we'll have to turn to renewables like photovoltaic and wind power if we are to meet the increasing demand for electricity in a CO2-neutral manner. 

Using sunlight as an energy source

How does a ray of sunlight become electrical energy? The animation shows how it works. 

  • Photovoltaic (PV) solar panels use sunlight as a source of energy to generate direct current (DC). 
  • Photons in the sunlight energize the different electric properties of the solar cell layers, creating an electric field and thus generating electricity. 
  • Solar panels are used to generate energy from light beams, but an inverter is needed to convert that energy into usable electrical energy. 
  • Therefore, the inverter is the link between the solar panel and the power grid. 
  • It converts the direct current (DC) produced by solar panels into alternating current (AC) that can be fed into a commercial electrical grid and ultimately used in consumer applications like our coffee machines.

More energy from every ray – efficient power conversion for photovoltaic inverters

Infineon offers a broad portfolio of components for inverter designs, ranging from a few watts and kilowatts for residential systems to several megawatts for commercial and utility-scale applications.

Residential photovoltaics: Generating electricity on your roof

Residential photovoltaic systems turn sunlight into clean, affordable electricity at home. Infineon supports this technology with semiconductors for power conversion, inverter control and energy management. Silicon, silicon-carbide and gallium-nitride-based semiconductors from Infineon can help make photovoltaic systems more energy-efficient, reliable and more cost-effective.

global-electricity-consumption
global-electricity-consumption
global-electricity-consumption
Our solutions for photovoltaic inverters

Utility-scale photovoltaics: Supplying the power grid with green energy

Large solar power plants generate electricity for the public power grid. They consist of extensive arrays of solar panels with at least 1 MW capacity. The direct current produced is converted by multiple huge inverters.  

Our power semiconductors based on silicon and silicon carbide enable highly efficient power conversion, with a maximum efficiency factor of 99.2 percent. This means that less than one percent is lost during power conversion.

global-electricity-consumption
global-electricity-consumption
global-electricity-consumption
Our solutions for central inverters

Boosting energy efficiency with wide-bandgap semiconductors

Modern power semiconductors are based on special wafer materials (silicon carbide or gallium nitride) and have specific characteristics optimizing energy efficiency. Their structure and properties let them handle higher voltages and frequencies and still function smoothly at higher temperatures. This makes them ideal for various electronic applications like solar inverters. 

A highly visible example where silicon carbide (SiC) has made significant design miniaturization possible is central or string inverters in solar power systems. Infineon CoolSiC™ MOSFETs increase power density by a factor of 2.5, e.g. from 50 kW (Si) to 125 kW (SiC), at a unit weight of less than 80 kg, so that two installers can lift the unit alone. 

Gallium nitride (GaN) is an important building block in the next generation of residential solar energy production, delivering significant energy savings, improved performance and accelerating the adoption of renewable energy sources. GaN-based microinverters, optimizers and power conditioners more efficiently convert DC electricity from solar panels stored in batteries into usable AC electricity for homes, businesses and charging stations.

Explore Infineon wide-bandgap technology

Battery energy storage – balancing supply and demand

The power supplied by photovoltaic modules fluctuates depending on weather conditions and time of day. That's why the efficient combination of photovoltaic and battery energy storage systems is an effective way of synchronizing supply and demand.

Infineon semiconductors play an important role in many areas of a battery energy storage system. They handle energy conversion and manage the battery. Additionally, they support thermal management such as heating, cooling and automated temperature control. And they are essential for safety and security.

global-electricity-consumption
global-electricity-consumption
global-electricity-consumption
Learn more about storage solutions from Infineon

Moore's Lobby Podcast

Powering a greener future: Insights from Dr. Peter Wawer, Division President Green Industrial Power

In Moore’s Lobby Podcast from "All about Circuits" Peter Wawer brings insights from a distinguished career that has touched three unique major semiconductor technologies: silicon photovoltaics, embedded Flash, and now wide bandgap semiconductors for power electronics.

Listen now
Renewables podcast with Peter Wawer
Renewables podcast with Peter Wawer
Renewables podcast with Peter Wawer