Catapults
Catapult Network Cell and Gene Therapy Connected Places Digital Energy Systems High Value Manufacturing Medicines Discovery Offshore Renewable Energy Satellite Applications
Search

Power electronics

Our world-leading team of experts has the know-how, experience and track record in developing and commercialising high-performing power electronics devices for automotive, energy and industrial applications.

World leading power electronics capability

Our cutting-edge technology, know-how and test equipment are used to design and develop high-performing power electronics modules and converters for automotive, energy and industrial applications.

Our world-leading experts provide trusted, impartial advice so that you can fully exploit the potential of compound semiconductor power devices, from the design stage through to validation. 

CSA Catapult’s power electronics laboratory is one the most advanced and comprehensive centres in the UK, providing you with access to some of the most sophisticated tools and equipment, overseen by world-class expertise. 

Ingo Lüdtke

head of power electronics

“The next generation of compound semiconductors will enable power conversion at higher operating voltages, frequencies, temperatures and efficiencies.

“CSA Catapult is the ideal partner to help realise these benefits and drive forward the rapid innovation across the power electronics industry.” 

Modelling

We provide access to some of the industry’s most advanced and sophisticated modelling and simulation tools, enabling you to make better and more informed decisions about your devices from the very start.  

Our world-leading team of experts perform thermal, electrical and structural simulations of devices, helping to reduce the costs of prototyping and product development, and speeding up the time to market.  

Capabilities

  • Electro-thermal power device modelling
  • 3D CAD
  • Multiphysics simulation (thermal, electromagnetic and structural)
  • Circuit simulation
  • Layout simulation
  • System simulation

Characterisation

Our state-of-the-art testing and characterisation equipment is used to provide accurate and detailed information about the performance of a device under a range of bespoke operating conditions. 

Electrical and thermal performance data can provide you with critical information about how your device behaves over its entire lifetime and can help inform the choice of materials to use in a final product.  

Capabilities related to SiC/GaN power modules/devices:

  • Static electrical characterisation, also on wafer (to IV 10kV 1.5kA, CV 3kV, -50°C to +220°C)
  • Double pulse test (to 1kA, 1kV)
  • Parasitic inductance characterisation
  • Transient thermal impedance characterisation (to 1.8kA)
  • Magnetics B-H loop characterisation

Faster digital design

We optimise the performance and efficiency of your power device by employing our next-generation tools and technologies in fast digital design.   

We harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) and artificial neural networks (ANN) to make quick, accurate and informed design decisions about your individual components or complex electronic systems. 

Our methods can transform weeks of design efforts into minutes. This significantly reduces the time of product development and allows you to bring your device or system to market quicker. 

Our unique combination of smart algorithms, cloud computing power and exclusive characterisation and measurement data of components provides an unrivalled design solution.  

Capabilities

  • Access to exclusive component characterisation and measurement data 
  • Smart algorithms to optimise design efficiency  
  • High-performance cloud computing for complex simulations 
  • Virtual prototyping and digital twins  

Validation

We are at the forefront of new standards and guidelines, which are implemented into the equipment and capabilities within our power electronics laboratory.  

We provide a comprehensive suite of technologies for validating compound semiconductor-based devices prior to their official certification and entry into the market, giving you full confidence that your devices and products will meet the necessary standards and guidelines.  

Capabilities related to SiC/GaN power modules/devices:

  • Short circuit testing 
  • Lifetime testing (Power cycling, HTS, LTS, HTRB, HTGB, H3TRB) 
  • EMC scanning 
  • Efficiency measurements 
  • 4 Quadrant 2 x 50kVA AC, 2 x 16kW DC hardware-in-the-loop testing 

Related
case studies

Find out how we're helping businesses to develop and commercialise new compound semiconductor technologies.

@FutureBEV (Accelerated Technologies for Future Battery Electric Vehicles)
26/04/2024

@FutureBEV (Accelerated Technologies for Future Battery Electric Vehicles)

Case studies | Completed Projects | Academic collaboration | Technology acceleration Find out more
Working with Cardiff University on research that accelerates commercialisation
26/04/2024

Working with Cardiff University on research that accelerates commercialisation

Case studies | Completed Projects | Academic collaboration | Technology acceleration Find out more
Siemens Power Electronics Innovation Hub
26/04/2024

Siemens Power Electronics Innovation Hub

Case studies | Completed Projects | Technology acceleration Find out more
GaNTT – Gallium Nitride Trench-FET Development for Automotive Power Applications
06/04/2024

GaNTT – Gallium Nitride Trench-FET Development for Automotive Power Applications

Case studies | Completed Projects | Supply chains | Technology acceleration Find out more
High T Hall
06/04/2024

High T Hall

Case studies | Completed Projects | Supply chains | Technology acceleration Find out more
The HiCap project: developing a new UK supply chain for power electronic converters
06/04/2024

The HiCap project: developing a new UK supply chain for power electronic converters

Case studies | Completed Projects | Supply chains Find out more
CSA Catapult’s power electronics lab – UK leader in modelling, characterisation, integration and validation facilities
06/04/2024

CSA Catapult’s power electronics lab – UK leader in modelling, characterisation, integration and validation facilities

Case studies | Completed Projects | Supply chains | Technology acceleration Find out more
Safe installation and operation of a fuel cell system and hybrid powertrain in offshore CTV (SinO-OFH)
01/04/2024

Safe installation and operation of a fuel cell system and hybrid powertrain in offshore CTV (SinO-OFH)

Live projects | Technology acceleration Find out more

Our expertise

Find out more
Power electronics

Power electronics

Our world-leading team of experts has the know-how, experience and track record in developing and commercialising high-performing power electronics devices for automotive, energy and industrial applications.

Find out more
RF & microwave communications

RF & microwave communications

Our radio frequency and microwave communications experts help optimise the performance and improve the energy efficiency of RF and microwave devices in future telecoms, space, defence and security industries.

Find out more
Photonics

Photonics

We are experts in the design, modelling, characterisation and validation of photonics devices, from laser emitters to photonic integrated circuits and quantum hardware.

Find out more
Advanced packaging

Advanced packaging

We provide a unique capability in advanced packaging for UK industry. We deliver bespoke solutions to the many complexities associated with compound semiconductor devices.

Find out more

Get in touch

To learn more about how we can work together, get in touch with a member of our team today.

Contact us