Demand for energy worldwide is climbing rapidly, driven in part by power hungry data centers that support artificial intelligence and by growth in manufacturing. Meeting these expanding energy needs is becoming an urgent global challenge.
One promising strategy is to use existing electricity more efficiently and at lower cost. Working toward that goal, researchers at NREL have developed a new silicon carbide-based power module. This component, which houses the electronics that regulate how electricity moves between systems, delivers levels of efficiency, power density, and manufacturability that have not been achieved before.
The new technology is known as NREL’s Ultra-Low Inductance Smart power module, or ULIS. Built around silicon carbide semiconductors, ULIS can deliver five times the energy density of earlier designs while occupying a smaller footprint. This opens the door for manufacturers to create equipment that is more compact, lighter, and more energy efficient. Rated at 1200 volts and 400 amps, the module is designed for demanding uses, including data centers, electric grids, microreactors, and heavy-duty platforms such as next-generation aircraft and military vehicles.
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