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ESCAPE: Creating the UK’s first complete end-to-end supply chain for silicon carbide power electronics

Date: 13.12.2024

Topics: Net Zero, Power Electronics

Technology acceleration Job creation/safeguarding

ESCAPE

One-fifth of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are generated by transport, the majority of which comes from passenger vehicles and freight trucks.

Transitioning to electric vehicles and shifting to renewable energy generation will eliminate these CO2 emissions and reduce the UK’s dependency on imported fossil fuels. To enable this transition, new technologies must be created to manage the supply and distribution of power within electric vehicles.

Compound semiconductors – and silicon carbide (SiC) more specifically – are ideal for enabling these new technologies as they are faster and more efficient compared to standard silicon technology.

ESCAPE, a £20m project from the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC), brought together 12 partners to establish a globally unique and cohesive end-to-end supply chain capability for innovative SiC power electronics.

The challenge

At present, technologies built using SiC cannot be made from parts sourced in the UK.

Establishing an end-to-end supply chain to manufacture these high-value components will provide security and resilience, protect skilled manufacturing jobs and provide significant export potential for the associated vehicles and components, providing significant benefits to the UK economy.

The approach

Led by McLaren Applied, ESCAPE consisted of 12 work packages ranging from epilayer manufacturing and fab preparation to the development of converters and inverters.

CSA Catapult’s role in the project involved device and module packaging, and leading on the modelling, characterisation, integration and validation of power switches.

The outcome

The ESCAPE project has delivered a wide range of technical, social and economic benefits for all 12 project partners.

The ESCAPE project has had a direct influence on Vishay investing heavily in UK-based SiC manufacturing and the successful acquisition of facilities from Nexperia in Newport for $177m.

The ESCAPE project was also pivotal in Microchip’s decision to make their Caldicot site its Advanced Packaging Centre for Power Modules. Microchip has invested $3m in the site for advanced power module manufacturing capability.

CO2 savings

The ESCAPE project partners estimate that the project outcomes will contribute to the manufacturing of hundreds of thousands of electric vehicles and associated charging infrastructure over the next five to ten years, contributing to several million tonnes of CO2 savings.

Establishing a UK sovereign supply chain

Project partners have developed new products and processes as part of the ESCAPE project to help establish a UK supply chain for SiC power electronic technologies.

Securing further investment

Partners have upskilled staff, created new jobs, instigated new collaborative R&D projects and secured significant investment in the South Wales region.

One year on

Many project partners are still achieving notable impacts one year after the completion of the ESCAPE project.

- Clas-SiC Wafer Fab has secured £10m in private investment and featured in The E2E Female 100 track 2025 in The Independent.
- Compound Semiconductor Centre has secured £245k in public funding and its turnover has increased by 25%
- Micro-Semi has secured £108,000 in public funding with a 7% increase in exports.

The ESCAPE project continues to strengthen technological developments within the sector and benefit both partners and their customers.

Since project completion in 2024, ESCAPE has generated £647,000 additional CR&D income for CSA Catapult.

As well as this, the internal capabilities developed within the Catapult during the project has benefitted 12 SME’s from the advancements in their capabilities.

CO2 savings

The ESCAPE project partners estimate that the project outcomes will contribute to the manufacturing of hundreds of thousands of electric vehicles and associated charging infrastructure over the next five to ten years, contributing to several million tonnes of CO2 savings.

Establishing a UK sovereign supply chain

Project partners have developed new products and processes as part of the ESCAPE project to help establish a UK supply chain for SiC power electronic technologies.

Securing further investment

Partners have upskilled staff, created new jobs, instigated new collaborative R&D projects and secured significant investment in the South Wales region.

Related
case studies

CSA Catapult’s team combines industry experience with cutting-edge research and development, as exemplified in various case studies.

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