# The rise of grid power electronics with Drew Baglino

- Show: [Catalyst](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst)
- Published: 2026-02-19
- Length: 50m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-02-19-the-rise-of-grid-power-electronics-with-drew-baglino

## Summary

Drew Baglino, founder and CEO of Heron Power and former Tesla energy leader, explains how solid-state transformers (SSTs) use silicon carbide power electronics to replace aging, passive grid infrastructure. He details the severe transformer shortage driven by data center demand and regulatory uncertainty, and outlines how Heron’s SSTs simplify solar/battery interconnections and enable direct DC power distribution in data centers, removing 70% of traditional electrical equipment. Baglino argues that SSTs offer a pathway to grid affordability by increasing the utilization of existing wires through dynamic control.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-02-19-the-rise-of-grid-power-electronics-with-drew-baglino#t=7) Introduction: Drew Baglino and Heron Power
- [4:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-02-19-the-rise-of-grid-power-electronics-with-drew-baglino#t=241) History of Power Electronics and Semiconductors
- [14:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-02-19-the-rise-of-grid-power-electronics-with-drew-baglino#t=841) Silicon Carbide at Tesla and EV Supply Chain
- [22:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-02-19-the-rise-of-grid-power-electronics-with-drew-baglino#t=1362) The Transformer Shortage and Supply Chain Constraints
- [31:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-02-19-the-rise-of-grid-power-electronics-with-drew-baglino#t=1864) SSTs for Solar and Battery Interconnection
- [40:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-02-19-the-rise-of-grid-power-electronics-with-drew-baglino#t=2438) SSTs for Data Center Power Distribution
- [44:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-02-19-the-rise-of-grid-power-electronics-with-drew-baglino#t=2678) Grid Management and Future of the 21st Century Grid

## Topics

- [Analog & power electronics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/analog-and-power-electronics)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Heron Power (company)
- Tesla (company)
- Silicon Carbide (material)
- Gallium Nitride (material)
- Wolfspeed (company)
- Fineon (company)
- SMA (company)
- Huawei (company)
- Sungrow (company)
- EnergyHub (company)
- Solid State Transformer (product)
- Heron Link (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Back on the road in '26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2026-03-04-back-on-the-road-in-26) (The Amp Hour)
- [Ep. 24 | GE Renewables' VP & CTO Danielle Merfeld on Engineers in Power](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2021-05-11-ep-24-ge-renewables-vp-cto-danielle-merfeld-on-engineers-in-power) (Moore's Lobby)
- [Managing Energy At The Edge: Navigating The Modern Grid With Itron](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-09-05-managing-energy-at-the-edge-navigating-the-modern-grid-with-itron) (Over the Air)
- [Solving a Renewables Problem with Electric Vehicles](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2021-05-28-solving-a-renewables-problem-with-electric-vehicles) (EE Times Current)
- [Aligning Passion With Purpose: A Journey to Electrification and Sustainability](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2025-06-17-aligning-passion-with-purpose-a-journey-to-electrification-and-sustainability) (Moore's Lobby)

## Citing this page

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