Prof. Stig Munk-Nielsen: received the M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees from Aalborg University, Denmark, in 1991 and 1997, respectively.Currently Professor at the Department of Energy, Aalborg University and research interests include LV and MV Si, SiC and GaN converters, packaging and power converter circuits.Since 2008 Stig worked with circuits for monitoring of high power IGBT voltage drop for failure analysis purpose and the team managed to install monitoring systems in off-shore wind turbine in 2018. Since 2013 secured funding for a die packaging team and laboratory facilities for 10 kV SiC devices. The packaging facilities inaugurated in 2017 is a key enabler to the goal of extending the experience with digital design framework.In the last ten years, he has been involved in or has managed 10 research projects. Published 255 international power electronic papers being co-author or author. H-index 39.

Speech Topic: Medium voltage power devices: challenges, possibilities, opportunities.

Abstract: Ongoing maturing of medium voltage device technologies are the driver of harvesting the increased power conversion efficiency associated with increasing voltage levels. Today most wind turbines apply low voltage in wind turbines for megawatt power conversion.  Wind turbines is one example of the fact that power electronics are the ‘glue’ connecting renewable sources as the turbines and grid electrically together allowing the energy flow from producer to user.The challenges of applying medium voltage are not solved overnight. The presentation addresses historical background and today experiences working with medium voltage WBG devices and potential impact on future power electronic converters. Based on about ten years of research projects involving power module components development and prototype manufacturing, new magnetic components designs and power converters demonstrating the functionality of developed components. Hopefully the take-way will be that the research projects presented supported the maturing of wide band gap-based power electronic converters.