North Carolina State University, New York Power Authority (NYPA), and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) completed a three-day field test of a megawatt-class solid-state transformer on a live 13.2-kV distribution feeder in Lenox, Massachusetts, as first reported by powermag.com. The demonstration, which took place in mid-June 2026 at EPRI’s power delivery laboratory, marked the first independent validation of such a device under real-world utility conditions. The prototype, designed and built by NC State researchers with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, successfully supplied power to an electric vehicle and injected reactive power for grid support while being repeatedly energized and de-energized.
What it means
Solid-state transformers use semiconductor-based power converters and high-frequency isolation to regulate voltage and manage power quality, operating at frequencies in the tens of kilohertz compared to the 50- or 60-Hz frequency of conventional transformers. This field campaign validates that the technology can handle real-world distribution loads beyond laboratory settings. The test confirms the device’s ability to perform bidirectional power flow and grid support functions essential for modernizing distribution infrastructure.
The project builds on decades of research into electronic transformer concepts, including General Electric’s proposals in the late 1960s and EPRI’s Intelligent Universal Transformer introduced in 1995. NC State’s specific work traces back to a National Science Foundation-funded program launched in 2008, with NYPA joining as a collaborator in 2018. The U.S. Department of Energy Transportation Technologies Office funded the current effort under award DE-EE0008450. This demonstration follows an EPRI white paper and survey from December 2025 that cataloged smaller-scale SST developments, including a 25-kVA distribution unit, a 400-kW EV charger, and a 500-kVA hybrid design. NC State’s earlier FREEDM prototypes started at 10 kVA capacity and advanced to more than 20 kVA, utilizing silicon-carbide MOSFETs rated at 15-kV in prior systems.
Key facts
- Demonstration occurred over three days in mid-June 2026 at EPRI’s laboratory in Lenox, Massachusetts.
- The prototype operated on a live 13.2-kV utility distribution feeder.
- Funding provided by the U.S. Department of Energy Transportation Technologies Office under award DE-EE0008450.
- NC State designed and built the power-electronics hardware; NYPA funded and contributed to construction and field testing.
- Srdjan Lukic, Lampe Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at NC State, served as principal investigator.
- Ramadan Elmoudi, senior research engineer at NYPA, led the project.
- The test validated megawatt-class capacity, surpassing earlier prototypes that ranged from 10 kVA to over 20 kVA.
- EPRI’s December 2025 survey noted other SST developments including a 25-kVA distribution unit and a 400-kW EV charger.
Source: powermag.com