ARPA-E Awards $130 Million to 66 Transformative Energy Technology Projects Silicon Power Corporation Awarded $4,750,000

ARPA-E Awards $130 Million to 66 Transformative Energy Technology Projects
Silicon Power Corporation Awarded $4,750,000.

ARPA-E has funded 66 new projects aimed at advancing all types of transformative energy technologies. These projects were funded through OPEN 2012, ARPA-E’s second open call for projects aimed at advancing high-potential research into a variety of energy technologies. The 66 OPEN 2012 projects represent 24 states and cut across 11 different technology areas, including advanced fuels, advanced vehicle design, building efficiency, carbon capture, energy storage, grid modernization, and renewable power.
Optically-Switched, Single-Bias, High-Frequency Thyristor

Silicon Power Corporation will develop a semiconducting device that switches high power and high voltage electricity using optical signals. This device will use light to trigger control circuits or mechanisms more rapidly, greatly simplifying the control of high-voltage equipment. Unlike current switching mechanisms that predominately use silicon, this device employs silicon carbide.

SOURCE: http://arpa-e.energy.gov/