With energy efficiency emerging as the "bridge fuel" to renewable, clean energy sources, the power electronics industry is poised to step into the breach with software as well as hardware solutions needed to build intelligent power systems.

Energy efficiency has become so important to electronics manufacturers and consumers alike that an industry survey and roadmap found that consumers are now willing to pay a premium for electronic products that deliver energy efficiency. "There's demand for power efficiency," said Carl Blake, who helped compile the industry's latest roadmap for the Power Supply Manufacturers' Association. "Energy conservation is driving higher efficiency."

The group's roadmap predicts lower costs and higher device densities as well as improved energy efficiency measured in dollars per watt. At high unit volumes, the group predicts that dollar/W efficiency for power electronics will drop to as low as 12 cents by 2013.

The growing focus on energy efficiency comes as the Obama administration plans to spend billions of dollars on power conservation and sustainable energy projects as part of the stimulus package. "Energy efficiency is the bridge fuel we must build on and must invest in," said Andrew Fanara, who helps run the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star program.

Part of the Obama administration's strategy is to use energy efficiency as a way to buy time to explore and invest in emerging clean energy options. Energy efficiency "is the cheapest, cleanest, fastest way to act," Fanara said.

By: DocMemory
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