In the SiC4GRID project, the VUB has been assigned the role of coordinator and the lead of Design optimization of SiC-based modules and Digital Twin modelling. For this, the VUB will develop the co-design optimization framework for the SiC power modules for different converter applications and will perform the Digital Twin modelling for the modules, based on prototype testing data. Also, the VUB will investigate the self-healing energy management strategy (EMS) to increase the reliability and lifetime of the Modular Multi-level Converter (MMC) prototype. The VUB will perform the converter-level simulations and reliability assessment based on real load profile data for wind and PV applications.

SOITEC participates in Sic4Grid with its technology “Smart Cut” and it will be adapted in order to be compliant to 3.3kV applications and improved cost-efficiency at the system level. SOITEC is also responsible on one hand for the definition and execution of exploitation strategies in order to ensure the applicability and efficiency of the developed technologies as well as prototypes on component and system level. On the other hand, the definition and execution of processes for inter-consortium information exchange to establish a European technological networking platform, through which further significant synergies can be achieved.

The project team at AAU-Energy has conducted research on the application and development of digital-twin concept and modeling in power electronics area in the last few years. The two important key skills that project team possesses are design for reliability and electromagnetic compatibility. Through SiC4Grid project AAU has an ambition to build up competitive edge in transforming next generation of power electronics technologies and bridging the academic research on digitalization and its practical industrial applications for power electronics.

ITML, as the IoT Leader of the SiC4GRID project, is leading the deployment of the Smart IoT connectivity. Advanced and interoperable data management in industrial IoT environment will be delivered through the DFB platform. In addition, ITML will follow the results of techno-economic and environmental assessments in order to define the strategy and the roadmap towards higher TRL.

EDF is the main end-user of the SiC4GRID project and has the goal of aligning the project goals, common targeted KPIs, use-case definition, impacts, etc. In the rest of the project, EDF contributes to different tasks and ensures that the developments and innovations of the project are well aligned with the initial assumptions and requirements. The digital simulations will validate the use of the solution of converters thanks to the real-life conditions provided by EDF.

In SiC4GRID, AMTS will be responsible for the design and development of the Gate Drive and will build on existing, patented, “Adaptive Drive” technology to yield an integrated gate drive, suited to the SiC MOSFET module and application, with improved s/c protection. By doing so, AMTS will demonstrate that it is stable under all conditions and offers long term cost and size benefits to the customer.

Within SiC4Grid CSEM will be mainly involved in the development of high dielectric constant materials as replacement of conventional SiO2 based gate oxides. These new materials are expected to contribute to enable competitiveness of SiC- based power devices by improving their performance and reducing their costs. CSEM is equipped with the latest generation of deposition and characterisation tools thus ensuring high quality and low environmental impact SiC MOSFETs production during the project.

MGEP is the leader of the LCA of power electronics converters in applications, an analysis which will contribute to providing viable and sustainable commercialisation strategies for all the SiC4GRID project developments. Monitored by MGEP, circularity and life cycle environmental assessments will be performed to provide industries with the most environment-friendly ways to produce and upscale the SiC-based converters.

Finalising the production of innovative PE modules, PWC will integrate all elements into a full scale SiC-based converter coupling the hardware to the software. Based on their MMC demonstrator, PWC will lead activities aimed at demonstrating the capabilities of SiC in a real-world scenario. The MMC test-bench will be updated with SiC power-modules which will enable to gain valuable real-world experience with the technology and how it compares to the performance of silicon based IGBT technology.

KKW involvement in SiC4Grid is predominantly related to the specification and testing of a SiC based MMC converter for medium voltage and will lead the physical real conditions testing in their facility. As the innovation manager, KKW will be responsible for establishing the processes to maximise exploitation of the results by all partners and identifying project innovations.

In SiC4GRID, HE will lead the tasks related to the SiC semiconductor devices design and prototyping including smart gate drivers. HE will exploit the SiC4GRID results in MOSFETs and LinPak development towards establishing a potential 3.3kV-related supply chain in Europe and build on the project results to share the benefits of ALD technology towards industrial use for High Voltage SiC MOSFETs.

In SiC4GRID, Euroquality has a dedicated environment and energy team that will lead the work package dedicated to communication, dissemination and networking activities, mainly by carrying out communication and dissemination activities. We will also support the coordinator in the management and coordination of the project, mainly for administrative aspects.

Design for high reliability (D4HR) is an approach to product design that aims to ensure the reliable operation of a product over its expected lifetime. This approach involves identifying potential failure modes and designing products to be resilient to them, as well as using high-quality materials, components, and manufacturing processes.

The benefits of design for high reliability include improved product performance, increased customer satisfaction, and reduced warranty and repair costs. By designing products to be reliable, organizations can improve their reputation, reduce product returns, and increase customer loyalty.

A digital twin is a dynamic virtual copy of a physical asset, process, system or environment that looks like and behaves identically to its real-world counterpart. A digital twin ingests data and replicates processes so you can predict possible performance outcomes and issues that the real-world product might undergo

Eco-design is an approach to product design that considers the environmental impact of a product throughout its entire lifecycle. The goal is to reduce the environmental impact of a product by optimizing its design, material selection, and manufacturing processes, resulting in benefits such as improved environmental performance, cost savings, and increased product longevity.

An Energy Management System (EMS) is a computer-based system used to monitor, control, and optimize the energy consumption of a building, facility, or industrial process. The EMS integrates data from various sensors and meters to provide real-time information on energy consumption, as well as energy demand and supply.

The EMS uses this information to optimize the operation of energy-consuming systems, such as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), lighting, and production equipment. The system can also automatically adjust energy consumption based on external factors, such as weather conditions, energy prices, and demand response signals from the grid.

EMSs can help organizations to reduce their energy consumption, increase energy efficiency, and save on energy costs. They can also improve the reliability and resilience of energy systems by optimizing the use of on-site energy resources, such as solar panels, batteries, and backup generators.

An HVDC/MVDC converter is an electronic device that converts electrical power from one voltage level to another in a direct current transmission system. The converter takes the direct current power input and uses electronic switches to control the voltage and current to produce the desired output. These converters are commonly used in high-power applications, such as long-distance power transmission and electric vehicle charging, and are often based on WBG technologies, such as SiC.

A Modular Multi-Level Converter (MMC) is a type of power converter used in HVDC and MVDC applications. It is composed of a series of power electronic cells that are stacked together to form a modular structure. Each cell is made up of several submodules, which consist of capacitors and power switching devices, such as insulated-gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) or MOSFETs.

The MMC operates by modulating the voltage and current of each submodule to achieve the desired output voltage and current waveforms. This modulation scheme allows the MMC to produce a nearly sinusoidal output voltage with low distortion, high efficiency, and high reliability. The MMC is also capable of handling a wide range of power levels and is often used in high-power applications, such as HVDC transmission, renewable energy systems, and motor drives.

Predictive Health Monitoring (PHM) is a process that uses data and analytical techniques to detect and diagnose faults or anomalies in a system before they lead to failure. PHM involves monitoring the performance of a system in real-time and analyzing data to identify potential issues early, helping to prevent system failures, reduce downtime, and extend the lifespan of a system. The benefits of PHM include increased system uptime, reduced maintenance costs, and improved safety.

A Self-Healing Energy Management System (SHEMS) is an advanced energy management system that is designed to be highly resilient and self-repairing in the face of faults or disturbances in the energy system. The SHEMS incorporates advanced control algorithms and fault detection and isolation techniques to detect and diagnose faults in the energy system, and to automatically take corrective actions to restore normal operation.

The main advantage of a Self-healing EMS is its ability to ensure uninterrupted and reliable operation of the energy system, even in the face of unexpected faults or disturbances. This can lead to improved energy efficiency, reduced downtime and maintenance costs, and increased system resiliency and sustainability.

Silicon Carbide (SiC) is a WBG semiconductor material composed of silicon and carbon atoms. It has a unique set of material properties that make it an attractive alternative to traditional semiconductors, such as silicon, for use in high-power and high-temperature electronic applications. SiC exhibits excellent thermal conductivity, high electric field strength, and high electron mobility, which make it well-suited for use in high-performance power devices, such as power converters and inverters.

SiC epi wafers are epitaxial wafers made from silicon carbide (SiC) material. Epitaxy is a process by which a thin layer of material is deposited onto a substrate to form a single crystal structure. SiC epi wafers are typically used in the fabrication of high-performance electronic devices, such as power transistors, radio frequency (RF) devices, and light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

The use of SiC epi wafers can help to improve the performance and efficiency of electronic devices, particularly in high-power and high-frequency applications.

Silicon Carbide (SiC) MOSFETs are high-performance power switching devices that use SiC as the semiconductor material instead of silicon.

SiC MOSFETs offer several advantages over traditional silicon-based MOSFETs, including lower switching losses, higher breakdown voltages, higher operating temperatures, and lower on-state resistance. These advantages lead to higher energy efficiency, faster switching speeds, and higher power density in high-power applications, such as electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and industrial drives.

SiC MOSFETs are available in a variety of voltage and current ratings, and are often used in combination with other power electronics components, such as gate drivers, diodes, and capacitors, to create complete power converter solutions. The use of SiC MOSFETs can help to improve the performance and efficiency of power electronics systems, particularly in high-power and high-frequency applications.

SiC LinPak power modules are high-performance power electronic modules developed by Hitachi Energy that integrate multiple SiC MOSFETs and diodes into a single package. The LinPak module consists of a number of individual cells, each containing a SiC MOSFET and diode pair, connected in parallel to handle high current levels.

SiC LinPak power modules offer several advantages over a massive reduction of switching losses, an increase in current density and higher maximum junction temperature. These enhancements mean power conversion system efficiency is improved, a smaller footprint is achieved and cooling requirements are much lower.

Overall, SiC LinPak power modules offer a compact, efficient, and reliable solution for high-power applications, with the ability to improve system performance and reduce system costs.

Smart gate drivers are electronic devices that control the switching of power semiconductor devices, such as MOSFETs, IGBTs, and SiC devices. They are designed to improve the efficiency and reliability of power electronics systems by providing advanced features and functionality.

The benefits of smart gate drivers include improved system efficiency, reduced switching losses, increased power density, and enhanced system reliability. By providing better control of the power semiconductor devices, smart gate drivers can help reduce system losses and increase the efficiency of power electronics systems. Additionally, smart gate drivers can improve the reliability of power electronics systems by protecting against potential device failures and reducing the risk of damage to other system components.

Solid State Transformers (SST) are power electronic devices that are used to transform and distribute electrical power in a variety of applications, such as renewable energy systems, electric vehicles, and smart grids. Unlike traditional transformers, which use electromagnetic principles to transform voltage and current levels, SSTs use power electronic components, such as transistors, to achieve the same transformation.

SST offer several advantages over traditional transformers, including higher efficiency, higher power density, and better controllability and flexibility. They can also incorporate features such as galvanic isolation, voltage regulation, and power factor correction. Additionally, SST are often based on WBG semiconductor technologies, such as silicon carbide (SiC) or gallium nitride (GaN), which offer improved performance and reliability over traditional silicon-based power electronics.

Wide bandgap semiconductors (WBG) are materials that have a larger energy gap between the valence and conduction bands than traditional semiconductors, such as silicon. Some examples of WBG semiconductors include silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN). These materials have a number of advantages over traditional semiconductors, including higher breakdown voltages, higher operating temperatures, and higher switching frequencies, which make them ideal for use in high-performance power electronics, such as power converters.