The PowerAmerica Institute at N.C. State University, a member of Manufacturing USA, recently awarded $24 million in funding to 24 new member projects that will enhance wide bandgap technologies in the United States.
“These projects are instrumental in fulfilling PowerAmerica’s mission of accelerating commercialization of wide bandgap power electronics. They also aim to expeditiously produce a highly skilled workforce, which is key in creating the large wide bandgap demand that spurs mass manufacturing with its cost-lowering benefits. To date, projects funded by the institute have contributed to the development of more efficient power electronics that benefit a range of applications – from electric vehicles to renewable energy and data centers,” said PowerAmerica Executive Director and CTO Victor Veliadis.
The latest round of projects encompass a number of applications – from heavy duty vehicles to medium voltage motor drives to high-efficiency power conversion for transportation refrigeration unit to energy storage. Recipients include companies such as John Deere, Toshiba, General Electric Aviation Systems and more, as well as leading universities, and the projects involve many examples of collaborative partnerships.
Together, PowerAmerica members collaborate on major projects related to: foundry and device development; module development and manufacturing; commercialization applications; and education and workforce development.