Vacon, One of 18 Selected by DoE

Global AC drives manufacturer, Vacon, has been named one of 18 industry-leading companies to participate in the Next Generation Power Electronics Institute at North Carolina State University. The Institute will bring research and commercial product development resources together in a centralized location to improve and make cost-competitive wide-bandgap (WBG) semiconductor-based power electronics. Over the next five years the institute will be financed with $70M in Department of Energy (DoE) support plus a collective $70M contribution from participating companies and other partners.

“Vacon is honored and excited to have the opportunity to collaborate with some of the best minds from industry leading companies, universities and government agencies to improve technology and energy efficiency,” says Dan Isaksson, Vice President, Medium Voltage Drives.“Vacon AC drives adjust the speed of electric motors according to actual process need, typically reducing energy consumption considerably. With improvements in WBG technology, future AC drives have the potential tobe even more energy efficient and offer even better performance because they will be able to operate at higher temperatures and switching frequencies than is possible with today’s silicon-based power semiconductors.”

Improving WBD technology - the same materials used in LED light fixtures, many flat screen TVs and other consumer and commercial devices - promises to boost America’s manufacturing base, improve energy efficiency and make power electronic devices faster, smaller and more efficient.