What is PEMD and Electech?

What is PEMD?

Power Electronics, Machines and Drives (PEMD) are technologies that enable the control and delivery of electrical energy. These technology sectors are growing fast as they are vital in allowing the world to reach net zero. PEMD technologies are used across many sectors including transportation, energy generation and distribution, industrial machines and robotics.

As the world races to Net Zero to mitigate climate change, electrified technologies are critical to the decarbonisation of many sectors such as air travel, shipping, power generation, e-mobility/autonomous/electric vehicles and industrial drives used within factories. By the intelligent application of power electronics and electech, we are able to greatly reduce humankind’s carbon footprint whilst still pushing the boundaries of innovation.

The United Kingdom has set ambitious targets to reach Net Zero, and to do this we hope to make the UK central to finding and developing technological solutions to climate issues. By strengthening our capability in the design and manufacture of PEMD technologies we are able to quickly advance industries that can make a huge difference and reach net zero sooner. Supported by UK Government, E-Power is supporting this ambitious race by helping people understand and find new roles in electech and PEMD, including training and skills development.

Want to learn more ? Come along to our drop in event at The Storey, Lancaster on 23 April between 12 and 6pm. Register here.

Where is PEMD Electech used?

Energy – examples include inverters in wind turbines, control systems within power grids, HVAC/building management/heating systems, battery control systems, and many more.
Industry – examples include robotics, industrial motors in factories, pumps, and many others.
Transport – examples include electric vehicles/EV chargers, e-bikes, buses, road haulage, rail transport, marine/shipping and more.

What is ElecTech?

Electech enables technology in our world. From the mobile phones in our pocket to LED lights in our houses, they all contain electronics and semiconductor components on printed circuit boards (PCBs), often controlled by software, that keeps everyday life moving.

Power electronics and power electech used within power systems are PEMD technologies that can create, switch, convert, control and monitor electrical energy in a variety of ways. Within many aspects of everyday life, from the train taken to work, to a machine making a hot drink , power electronics is playing a key role controlling, converting and delivering electrical power to make things happen – from motors turning wheels to a pump being switched off.

Power Electronics and Electech are designed, tested and manufactured by a global industry in all corners of the earth. As we race to fight climate change, and electrify carbon generating activities in our daily lives such as transportation, our reliance on power electronics electech will be become even greater, and we need to ensure that we have enough people working in these industries to ensure that supply can keep up with demand!

Roles in power electronics and electech are wide ranging – from technical and non-technical roles manufacturing and testing technology, to specialist design engineers innovating and developing exciting new products and technologies. E-Power hopes to assist those looking for new jobs and new opportunities to learn more about power electronics and electech to potentially enable them to join an exciting industry, with well paid, secure and rewarding careers ahead.

Consider the PEMD Supply Chain

Raw materials ►

Manufacturing ►

Systems integration ►

Re-use and recycle ►

Where Exactly Does Electech Fit Within PEMD?

Electech is an important element of PEMD technologies and is the glue, holds together power systems parts of the technology and determines when, where or how electrical energy is delivered to make something happen – for example a circuit board controlling a motor.
Electech includes a variety of elements – from power switching electronics to development of software programmed onto chips to monitor and control functionality.
Electech activities are often undertaken between Manufacturing Supply Chain and Systems Integration activities.
We see Electech as a key part of PEMD and essential for meeting challenges that PEMD needs to solve, such as electrification and decarbonisation of transport. To help transform the UK’s ability to create new products and services in PEMD, help ensure global opportunities for the UK, and sustain economic growth for the future, we need to increase the workforce and skillbase in Electech PEMD.