Thomas Ebel

Thomas Ebel is Professor and Head of the Centre for Industrial Electronics at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU), Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering. A leading expert in power electronics, high-voltage engineering and capacitor technology, he directs large, multi-partner research projects and teaches/supervises at both graduate and PhD levels.

Education & Career Path
Prof. Ebel holds the academic title Dr. rer. nat. and has been appointed full Professor at SDU. He concurrently serves as Head of Section at the Centre for Industrial Electronics, orchestrating cross-disciplinary research teams and infrastructure.

Research Interests

• Power Electronics & Power Conversion: advanced converter topologies, WBG devices (GaN, SiC), high-frequency magnetics, grid-forming control.
• Dielectric Materials & Capacitors: polymer and hybrid nanocomposite dielectrics, self-healing metallized film capacitors, aluminium electrolytic capacitors, lifetime modelling and reliability.
• High-Voltage Engineering & Breakdown Physics: breakdown mechanisms in nanocomposites, corona and partial discharge, insulation coordination.
• IoT & Data-Driven Monitoring: real-time condition monitoring, digital twins, data-driven RUL estimation for power components.

Publication Trends
Across 133 research outputs (2018-2025) the dominant themes are (i) construction and reliability of 700 V-class aluminium polymer electrolytic capacitors, (ii) GaN-based power converter optimisation, (iii) hybrid AC/DC microgrid control and harmonic mitigation, and (iv) nanocomposite dielectrics for next-generation capacitors. The 15 most recent articles (2025) reinforce these directions while adding socio-technical energy analytics and green-vehicle powertrains.

Scientific Awards

• Tek Innovation Prize 2023 – awarded for outstanding contributions to power electronics research and industrial innovation.

Advising & Funding
Prof. Ebel currently supervises ~10 PhD candidates and post-docs including L. Tavares, M. A. Khan, R. Maheshwari, S. Mateen, A. N. Pinky and others. He is Principal Investigator or Head Coordinator of six active projects (2024-2027) valued at >€8 M, spanning ultra-high-efficiency drives, hydrogen-PtX converters, self-healing capacitors and hybrid power-plant concepts.

Laboratory & Teams
He heads the High-Voltage Power Electronics Laboratory at SDU, equipped with 700 V/200 A capacitor test rigs, GaN/SiC converter prototyping benches, and environmental chambers for accelerated ageing studies. The centre collaborates with 20+ industrial partners and coordinates the international IEA Wind Task 50 on hybrid power plants.