Over the past 40-or-so years there has been a large trend in digitalisation of electronics, from complex systems to relatively simpler sensing and measurement nodes.  Grid connect technology has largely been unimpacted over this period, until relatively recently as the demand for more power from AI Data Centres in particular, plus the adoption of more Green Energy production (PV and Wind) for direct-to-grid connection has put demands on the connection technology; essentially a low frequency transformer. 

The Solid State Transformer (SST) is a new way to connect to the Medium Voltage transmission network, enabling both up-link (energy to the grid) and down-link (energy from the grid) to be implemented in both a reduced physical size and more controllable and reactive (to load demand) system. 

This primer presentation is a look at the methods and some of the technologies used in implementing of what is essentially a digital transformer for modern power connection.  Recent SST interest has been spurred-on by the convergence of new energy production, Electric Vehicle charging and Battery Energy Storage Systems and AI Data Centre demands which has brought together technologies from these separate systems into a cohesive new option for the Low Voltage side power distribution.  The primer also looks at how these new energy systems link together with the SST to provide a new power paradigm for distributed energy supply.