The Evolution of Power Electronics: Enabling High-Efficiency Systems from Data Centers to Residential Microgrids
Abstract
Power electronics stands at the forefront of innovation in modern electrical engineering, playing a critical role in enabling compact, efficient, and intelligent energy systems. In large-scale environments such as data centers, the adoption of wide-bandgap semiconductors—particularly silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN)—has allowed power conversion systems to operate at higher frequencies with significantly reduced losses. These advancements translate directly into smaller form factors, lower cooling requirements, and improved energy efficiency—factors essential for managing power density and reducing the environmental footprint of digital infrastructure.
Simultaneously, power electronics is revolutionizing decentralized energy systems through the development of solid-state circuit breakers (SSCBs). These devices leverage high-speed semiconductor switching to detect and interrupt faults in microseconds, far outperforming traditional electromechanical breakers. SSCBs are proving transformative in residential microgrids, where their ability to manage dynamic energy flows from solar panels, battery storage, and electric vehicles enhances reliability, safety, and operational flexibility.
These breakthroughs represent more than incremental improvements—they mark a pivotal shift in the engineering paradigm. By integrating advances in materials science, control systems, and embedded intelligence, power electronics is enabling a new generation of adaptive, high-performance energy architectures. This keynote will explore the trajectory of these innovations, their impact on both centralized and distributed systems, and the broader implications for the design and management of modern electrical infrastructure.
As microelectronics continues to evolve, the intersection of power, control, and digital intelligence will define the next era of engineering. Power electronics is not only improving performance—it is shaping the foundation of sustainable and intelligent energy systems for the future.
Bio
Michael House is the Vice President of Product Development of Siemens Government Technologies (SGT), Inc., the separate but affiliated U.S. government arm of Siemens. With project teams across the U.S. and internationally, SGT is a cleared provider of Siemens products, technologies and software to solve some of the most complex government challenges in energy, automation and digitalization.
Mr. House is responsible for guiding technology development for SGT to meet stringent government requirements and protocols, helping customers succeed in their missions of national consequence.
With over 30 years of experience in technical, program, and business development, House is a veteran government contract leader. Prior to joining SGT, House worked with AECOM, leading the organization’s Energy Consulting Services Business in the Americas. In this role, he successfully led capture efforts earning roles on multiple large IDIQ contracts with ceiling values totaling approximately $15 billion, as well as multiple master service agreements with utilities, to organically grow the business. Before AECOM, House served as the Department Manager of Infrastructure Security and Resiliency at URS and a Program Manager at Northrop Grumman, where he and his team were responsible for the delivery of space-qualified hardware for NASA and other government agencies. Earlier in his career, House led the commercialization of next-generation gas and steam turbine control systems at General Electric and was a lead engineer at the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory.
House holds a Master of Business Administration from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and master’s and bachelor’s degrees in engineering mechanics and engineering science, respectively, from Pennsylvania State University. He also holds seven patents.
