Silicon Carbide Power Devices: A Game Changer for Energy Efficiency

This project aims to establish a sustainable and strategic link between two world-renown centres of excellence (The University of Bristol and Zhejiang University) in power electronics to advance the application of new wide-bandgap silicon-carbide (SiC) power devices and significantly increase the research impact of both groups. The emerging SiC devices are seen as the game changer for greatly improving the energy efficiency. This timely collaborative project will define the roadmap for the research, adoption and wider application of SiC devices.

Power Electronics plays a crucial role in electrical power conversion. By 2020, 80% of electricity will be processed by power electronics equipment and 1% efficiency improvement could save 50GW electric power (equivalent to 200 large electric power stations) and significantly reduce CO2 emission. The emerging SiC devices are seen as the game changer for greatly improving the energy efficiency. This timely collaborative project between the University of Bristol and Zhejiang University in China will define the roadmap for the research, adoption and wider application of SiC devices.