In the second part of this two-part series around a sustainable future in the electronics industry, we’ll dive into how the modernization of power grids is among the most demanding engineering challenges of our time. As the pressure for breakthroughs in power conversion, real‑time sensing and system‑level intelligence grows, companies like DigiKey, a global electronics components distributor, are helping bridge the gap between innovation and implementation by connecting engineers with the components, technologies and supplier expertise needed to solve complex energy challenges. Through industry collaboration and digital intelligence, the electronics ecosystem is laying the foundation for a more efficient, resilient and sustainable power infrastructure.
At the forefront of power grid modernization is Analog Devices, a global semiconductor leader, which provides technologies to support the dynamic power grid system that constantly ebbs and flows based on supply and demand. Current burdens on the power grid require intelligence at the edge to enable real-time functionality, responsiveness, security and optimal operation.
With notable stress due to aging infrastructure, rising global temperatures and surging power demands, engineers are racing to roll out systemic solutions to reduce the power grid overload that frequently causes outages, blackouts and other failures.
Edge computing, advanced sensing and real-time data help power grids optimize energy generation, storage and distribution. Energy storage systems and other technologies are improving efficiency and grid stability, with even small, incremental gains in performance. These result in significant economic and sustainability benefits over time.
For example, even a one-percent improvement in power-conversion efficiency can have an outsized impact when deployed at scale. Applied across data center power supplies, solar inverters, electric vehicle fleets and grid-scale energy systems, a 1% efficiency gain can translate into tens to hundreds of terawatt-hours of annual electricity savings when deployed at scale, reducing operating costs by millions of dollars and avoiding millions of tons of carbon emissions.
Pushing the power grid and electrification needle
When it comes to the power grid, electrification and infrastructure are two key factors. While vehicles are a single part of this larger system, mobility trends are front and center today. With the rise in electric vehicles, autonomous transportation and car-sharing programs, the need for reliable, compact/miniature and environmentally resilient connectors has increased significantly. This is compounded by the migration to 48V design, which on its own has a new set of challenges, including increased electromagnetic interference fluctuation, higher voltage transients and PCB spacing needs. Electric car sales increased by more than 20% year-on-year in 2025, rising to 21 million units, with one in four cars sold being electric (IEA Global Energy Review 2026).
On top of that growth, behind every electric vehicle (EV) is an extensive network of charging infrastructure, power electronics, connectors, communication systems, energy storage, distribution networks, manufacturing capabilities and digital tools. To date, the challenge has been scaling the system to make electrification accessible and affordable for more people. However, building a sustainable charging infrastructure involves far more than the design of the charging station itself. Achieving scale requires addressing both technical challenges, such as grid modernization and power delivery, and societal challenges, including permitting processes and securing appropriate real estate. Regardless of the source, these obstacles often lead to high upfront costs and lengthy development cycles that can slow the expansion of charging networks.
According to Harwin, a manufacturer of interconnected devices and PCB hardware, a shift away from car ownership is on the horizon, making connector design critical for reliable power and signal transmission, particularly for remote EV charging stations. The ultimate goal is to reduce the size and weight of connectors, with headway being made on this front.
Other renewable energy pushes for solar power, battery storage, smart grids, distributed power generation and intelligent power management are maturing alongside EV infrastructure. As these systems interconnect for combined performance, we’ll really start to see the energy transition in action.
Because DigiKey supports millions of design engineers globally, we often see technology transitions emerge long before they become visible in finished products. Increasingly, engineers are prioritizing components that enable greater efficiency, connectivity and lifecycle performance, signaling a broader industry shift toward sustainability by design. The technologies emerging from this shift will help drive sustainable products and innovation for years to come. A prime example is the adoption of wide-bandgap power solutions such as Silicon Carbide (SiC) and Gallium Nitride (GaN). These technologies enable faster switching frequencies, higher voltages and operating temperatures, and smaller form factors. The result is more reliable and efficient power designs, which are critical requirements for creating sustainable products and systems.
Collaboration to collectively advance sustainability
While a digital revolution is underway, no single company can build the future of sustainable technology alone. It will be shaped by systems that think, adapt and evolve in real time. The complexity of today’s engineering challenges demands deeper collaboration between component manufacturers, semiconductor companies, distributors, software developers, system integrators and design engineers.
Technology roadmaps are being developed collaboratively, digital tools are simplifying component selection and accelerating design cycles, and engineers are prototyping and iterating concepts faster to bring value-add solutions and parts to market, and yet there’s more work to be done together.
Supply chains are evolving from transactional relationships into connected ecosystems built around shared sustainability objectives. This unified approach is accelerating innovation while reducing duplication, development time and excess waste. It’s exciting to see the collective efforts gaining traction and impact.
Explore more about the future of sustainability in the electronics industry by watching the second season of DigiKey’s Sustainable Futures video series.
Visit here for DigiKey Sustainable Futures – Part 1: The Future of Sustainability Relies on Digital Intelligence and Industry Collaboration
David Sandys is a senior director of technical enablement & engagementforDigiKey,the global leader and continuous innovator in the cutting-edge commerce distribution of electronic components and automation products worldwide. DigiKey provides more than 17.4 million components from over 3,000 quality name-brand manufacturers.
