Modern power electronics is an important technical foundation for building the future energy internet and smart grid. The insulation systems of the equipment driven by power electronics are stressed by high frequency voltages with harmonic due to the application of rectifiers and inverters which will accelerate the insulation ageing and bring a lot of challenges to the insulation systems. However

many of the detection and evaluation technologies for electrical equipment insulation systems under sinusoidal voltage are no longer applicable to the equipment driven by power electronics. By analyzing the development history of power electronics technology

the work characteristics and application background of relevant power electronic equipment

we review the recent concerns of insulation systems for equipment driven by power electronics such as new energy power generations

power electronic transformers

and rotating machines. In particular

the aging phenomenon and discharging mechanism of the rotating machines are analyzed. It is concluded that more research is needed under the same electrical

thermal and environmental stress conditions as that of equipment fed by converters to reveal insulation failure mechanism and influencing factors in order to increase the insulation reliability. Under the background of the development trend of high frequency

high power and high voltage power

future research prospects are proposed.