Buildings account for around 40% of energy consumption and 48% of the green house gas emission annually. Building electrification will eliminate the consumption of gas or other fossil fuels by using electrified building equipment but poses new challenges on electrical infrastructure, both in capacity and complexity, especially considering the integration of localized renewable energy generation and energy storage. Power electronics devices are ubiquitous in electrified buildings, processing electricity through the entire chain of generation, distribution, and utilization. Power electronics technology not only has to serve the power conversion purpose in an efficient, effective, and reliable manner but can also enable new functionality and provide unprecedented values to vast category of stakeholders.

The goal of this Research Topic aims to collect a cluster of dedicated power electronics research for building electrification and decarbonization, by taking account of the electricity’s localized generation, distribution, and utilization at the buildings scale in a holistic approach. The incumbent building electricity distribution based on mechanical circuit breaker panel and alternative current (AC) distribution needs to be re-imagined. Recent advances on smart electric panels equipped with advanced multi-port power electronics can interface with PV, energy storage, grid, and building loads for intelligent energy routing. Direct current (DC) distribution and hybrid AC/DC distribution can reduce power conversion stages as most of building loads are inherently DC. At energy usage side, the proliferation of heat pumps replacing natural gas heating will require new input on power electronics considering advanced motor drivers and solid state heat pumps. Synthetization and standardization of power converters for multiple types of loads can save the quantity of power supplies inside and outside of user devices, reducing electronic waste and improving user experience. Power electronics with more integrated functions such as data reporting can provide information to the buildings for energy management and act as an actuator to modulate the power consumption.

The scope of this Research Topic includes (but is not limited to):
- Standardized power converters for universal building loads;
- Behind-the-meter energy router;
- Multi-port converter;
- Advanced building electrical distribution and/or retrofit;
- Solid state lighting;
- Smart power electronics with data reporting;
- Electric vehicle to building to grid control and management;
- Minimization and management of standby power in power electronics;
- Building power quality improvement;
- Power electronics for energy storage;
- Power technology for heat pumps;
- and other power electronics concepts and technology dedicated for commercial and residential buildings.

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Frontiers in Electronics

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