Texas Instruments Released Solid-State Transformer Design
The reference design leverages silicon carbide and high-frequency switching to shrink transformer size and weight.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Semiconductors
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Texas Instruments has announced a new modular solid-state transformer reference design rated for 50kW. The power architecture aims to modernize electrical infrastructure by replacing bulky traditional units with high-frequency electronic components.
Why it matters
By utilizing high-frequency power conversion, this design enables smaller, lighter transformer hardware that can integrate more easily into modern power grids. It allows engineers to utilize commercially available silicon carbide devices for medium-voltage applications.
The system features a 50kW power rating with a 2.2kV medium-voltage DC link and a 1.5kV low-voltage output. It utilizes dual active bridge isolation stages switching at 100kHz and a DC-to-AC stage operating at 10kHz to manage power density.
The players
Texas Instruments
A semiconductor company specializing in analog and embedded processing chips for industrial and automotive power management systems.
The details
The design uses a cascaded H-bridge topology, where multiple converter submodules are stacked to share the total input voltage. Each submodule integrates an H-bridge converter with a dual active bridge—a power circuit that uses a transformer to transfer energy between two DC circuits. Fibre-optic links provide high-speed communication between these submodules to maintain synchronization and stability across the three-phase architecture.
Timeline
October 12, 2026: Texas Instruments officially released the reference design.
The Tech Race
This development moves beyond traditional line-frequency electromagnetic transformers by increasing switching frequencies to reduce physical footprint. It represents a broader industry trend toward digitizing and miniaturizing power distribution infrastructure via wide-bandgap semiconductors.
This design serves as a foundational blueprint for power engineers building next-generation energy infrastructure. Deployment depends on component availability and integration by manufacturers into industrial or utility-scale grid applications.
The takeaway
The move toward modular solid-state transformers reflects the growing importance of high-frequency power electronics in energy grids. Keep an eye on future adoption benchmarks and efficiency data reported as these designs move into pilot testing stages.
Further reading
For more on the evolution of power management components, visit our Semiconductors section.
More information
View the complete reference design details on the project portal.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Electronics For You - Official Site ElectronicsForU.com.
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