TRANSFORM PROJECT
Transform aims to develop a complete and competitive Power Electronics (PE) value chain based on SiC semiconductors extending from wafers to inverters/converters, to be showcased in 5 applications. Model based system engineering and lifetime models based on digital twins will be developed to enable understanding of complex interactions, shorten development cycles and improve traceability along the value chain.
Why Sic Technology
Europe is well positioned in the power electronics (PE) domain with global players such as STMicroelectronics, Bosch and Infineon as well as innovation leaders like Soitec, Danfoss and Semikron. However R&D on SiC based PE is necessary for European sovereignty in the field of power electronics. This is an essential technology for many important societal challenges (health, digitalization, climate, energy, mobility, agriculture…) in Europe.
How the Project Works
TRANSFORM consortium brings together key European players among the complete SiC value chain: from materials and substrates to inverters and converters for 5 uses cases in automotive, industry, renewables and agriculture applications. The consortium consists of 33 partners from 7 EU countries including universities and technology institutes as well as OEMs on the advisory board which offers the essential competencies and platform for targeted achievements.
Expected Results:
The innovation will establish a new global standard for substrate production: smart-cut technology enables high scalability, superior performance, and greater reliability. Substrate and equipment manufacturers, along with technology suppliers, collaborate to enhance the maturity of new processes from lab demonstration to pilot lines. Device manufacturers develop and tailor processes and device design based on the new substrate process, including the adaptation of planarMOS and the development of a new TrenchMOS technology. Device performance and reliability are expected to increase significantly. To leverage the potential of SiC devices, integration technologies and system design are simultaneously improved. The project will demonstrate energy savings in applications (DC/AC, DC/DC, AC/DC) in the renewable energy, industrial, and automotive sectors. TRANSFORM contributes to European social goals and the green economy by significantly increasing energy efficiency, providing a competitive economy ready for technological industrialization, and strengthening Europe’s technological sovereignty in a critical sector.
What HPE does
Development DC-DC converter for precision agriculture, including integration and validation activities.
