As energy systems evolve to support electrification, renewables, and digital infrastructure, the demands on power electronics are intensifying.
The schematic below illustrates the scope of the modern energy landscape. Across the board, capacitors are a common denominator in reliable power conversion. Whether smoothing signals, filtering noise, or storing energy, capacitors are foundational to performance. Their presence may be small, but their impact spans the entire energy ecosystem.
As global energy generation shifts toward renewable and advanced technologies, the electrical grid’s performance still depends on the reliability and precision of its components. This includes the critical role capacitors play in energy generation technologies like solar, wind, and fusion.
The United States expects to add 32.5 GW of new utility-scale solar capacity in 2025. These systems rely on high-voltage, high-frequency capacitors to smooth output, protect sensitive electronics, and enable fast response times during peak load shifts. Capacitors support greater energy density, higher operating temperature, and longer lifespans for scale.
Wind power generation is scaling with larger turbines, offshore installations, and hybrid systems driving demand for more efficient, reliable power electronics. The U.S. expects to add 7.7 GW of wind capacity in 2025. As converters operate at higher voltages and in harsher environments, capacitors play a vital role in filtering, energy storage, and voltage stabilization for performance and longevity.
Fusion systems pose some of the harshest demands on electronic components. In powering pulsed lasers and shaping energy bursts, capacitors are central to fusion experiments. From national labs to start-ups, capacitor arrays like Marx Generators support evolving confinement methods and next-gen fusion breakthroughs.
The way energy is distributed and stored is undergoing its own transformation. Long-distance transmission, grid-scale storage, and EV infrastructure all increase demand on distribution systems.
High-voltage direct current (HVDC) systems are expanding to support long-distance, high-efficiency power transmission and grid interconnection (e.g., NordLink and Changji-Guquan, and TransWest Express). Modern converter designs operate at higher voltages and switching frequencies to improve performance and reduce losses.
Utility-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) are scaling with the grid to support renewable integration, backup power, and voltage stabilization. The U.S. expects 18.2 GW of added utility-scale battery storage capacity in 2025. As BESS operate at higher voltages and in harsher conditions, reliable capacitors ensure efficient power conversion, maximize uptime, and enable modular, scalable energy storage for utility-scale and hybrid renewable systems. As AI-driven battery management systems and advanced chemistries (e.g., solid-state batteries) emerge, capacitors must deliver high reliability and long service life to match the performance profile.
EV charging is advancing with expanded DC fast-charging networks and the rise of bidirectional systems. These technologies require capacitors that handle high surge currents, filter switching noise, and endure frequent power cycles. As standardization improves interoperability, electronic component selection remains essential for stable, efficient operation and reliable energy flow in both directions.
Energy is only as useful as the systems that apply it. High-performance technologies push components to their limits with tighter space, voltage, and thermal constraints.
Industrial automation is advancing with robotics and high-performance motor systems like Brushless DC (BLDC) and Permanent Magnet Synchronous (PMS) motors. These systems demand compact, high-density motor controllers with precise, increasingly sensorless, control and high switching frequencies. Capacitors must meet rising thermal, voltage, and ripple current demands to delivering reliable, space-efficient performance for motor drives in complex, sterilizable manufacturing environments.
As EV power systems grow more advanced, managing high-voltage conversion across traction inverters, onboard chargers, and DC/DC converters requires specialized capacitors. Ceramic, film, and aluminum capacitors each serve critical roles in filtering, energy storage, and noise suppression.
AI data centers are scaling rapidly to support growing large language model complexity and demand, driving up power consumption and efficiency requirements. Resonant converters and wide bandgap semiconductors enable high-efficiency power delivery, but they rely on capacitors with low ESR, high Q, and thermal stability. Ceramic capacitors are increasingly favored for compact, reliable performance in these high-frequency environments.
With decades of experience in capacitor design and manufacturing, Knowles is committed to supporting energy innovation. Our broad portfolio of high-performance components and deep application expertise helps engineers realize their concepts and push for better performance at all levels of design.