Prof. Dmitri Vinnikov IEEE IES Distinguished Lecture on Power Electronics as the Enabling Technology for Buildings Decarbonization

As the global energy landscape shifts toward net-zero objectives, the building sector, which accounts for over one-third of global final energy use, has become a central focus of electrification and decarbonization strategies. This talk explores how direct current (DC) power distribution, enabled by advanced power electronics, can support a new generation of zero-emission buildings (ZEBs) and energy-positive communities. DC-based architectures, made possible by advances in photovoltaics, battery energy storage and intelligent load control, offer distinct advantages over conventional AC systems, including fewer energy conversion stages, higher efficiency, greater resilience and seamless integration with on-site renewable energy sources.
The first part of the talk introduces the motivation for DC buildings, highlighting major regulatory drivers such as the European Green Deal and the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). It outlines the architecture of building-scale DC microgrids, their integration with public grids, and the evolution of enabling standards and protocols, including NPR9090 and Current/OS. Real-world examples, including the TalTech Residential DC Innovation Hub, illustrate how technical, regulatory and human-centric aspects are converging in living lab environments. Additional insights are drawn from industry initiatives such as the Shift2DC project and the SET Plan Working Group on Low Voltage Direct Current (LVDC), which are advancing scalable and interoperable DC technologies.
The second part of the talk focuses on the power electronics that enable practical deployment of DC buildings. It presents recent advances in DC-DC and AC-DC converter topologies, including partial-power processing, interlinking (front-end) converters, and solid-state DC protection. Particular attention is given to droop control and its role in enabling resilient, interoperable, and decentralized DC microgrids.
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Speaker(s): Dmitri Vinnikov
Agenda:
14:00 — Welcome & Opening Remarks
14:10 — Introduction of Prof. Dmitri Vinnikov
14:15 — Distinguished Lecture: Power Electronics as the Enabling Technology for Buildings Decarbonization
Prof. Dmitri Vinnikov, Tallinn University of Technology
15:15 — Q&A and Discussion
15:30 — Closing Remarks & Networking
Room: 2.8, Viale del Risorgimento 2, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy, 40136