Swansea University’s Centre for Integrative Semiconductor Materials (CISM) is joining the EU-backed SAFEPOWER power efficiency project as a partner.

Swansea University joins SAFEPOWER project for MVDC converters

MVDC
The project aims to improve energy systems by creating small, eco-friendly Medium-Voltage Direct Current (MVDC) converters. These are used in applications such as offshore wind and solar farms, electric vehicle charging, and HPC (high performance computing) data centres.

According to the university, CISM will use its chip manufacturing pilot line to demonstrate next generation power chips. These will be based on wide bandgap materials such as silicon carbide and gallium oxide. The idea is to demonstrate process technology in order to then transfer the CISM learning into high-volume manufacturing.

As well as using special materials for power efficiency, the wider aims of the SAFEPOWER project include developing power switches, diodes, and circuit breakers to support modern energy systems. A role for AI will involve monitoring those systems. This is to ensure they are more reliable, predictable and longer lasting.

Finally, it also has a focus on “eco-friendly and cost-effective” designs, to help minimise the environmental impact of power systems, says Swansea.

“The move to a net zero society means efficient power management of renewable energy from where it is generated into the home,” said Swansea Professor Mike Jennings. “Efficient semiconductors developed in CISM enable power management of these renewable energy systems.”

“The same technology is underpinning for electric vehicles, industrial drives, impacting on wider sections of our society such as more electric aircraft and energy-efficient data centres.”

SAFEPOWER
SAFEPOWER is a project with €4.3m of funding from the EU’s Horizon Europe.

The full list of SAFEPOWER partners – spanning the UK, France, Italy, Latvia and Spain – comprises:

Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique Cnrs (FR)
Clas-Sic Wafer Fab Limited (UK)
Latvijas Universitates Cietvielu Fizikas Instituts (LV)
Politecnico Di Milano (IT)
Power Electronics Espana Sl (ES)
Swansea University (UK)
The Institute of Microelectronics of Barcelona (IMB-CNM-CSIC) (ES)
Universite De Technologie De Tarbes (FR)
Universite De Versailles Saint-Quentin-En-Yvelines (FR)
University Of Warwick (UK)