The USA Department of Commerce’s CHIPS Research & Development Office has signed an agreement with I-Pulse for a US$250 million CHIPS R&D award to advance U.S. technology leadership and innovation in novel silicon carbide (SiC) power semiconductors that can operate in extremely harsh environments.
I-Pulse will develop next-generation SiC semiconductors for high-temperature, high-current, high voltage solid-state switches in partnership with industry-leading Federal Laboratories, universities and specialised manufacturers.
By deploying SiC-based power electronics in pulsed-power drills, geothermal and critical minerals mining, drilling can be done more efficiently than conventional methodologies, and at a lower cost.
I-Pulse’s proprietary semiconductor and pulsed-power drilling technology will unlock significant untapped resources of geothermal power within the United States, enabling the next-generation of advanced geothermal power plants in America’s massive hot dry granite formations.
I-Pulse’s silicon-carbide switches will enable unparalleled drilling performance in high-temperature rock conditions. I-Pulse employs high-voltage switches to apply extremely high-power electrical pulses to hot granites and other geothermal formations. These powerful electrical pulses fracture and soften the rock ahead of the drill bit, multiplying drilling speed and vastly extending the life of the drill bit.
“With today’s announced investment, the Trump Administration is strengthening America’s capabilities and enhancing its national and energy security goals,” said Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick.
“I-Pulse's next-generation silicon carbide-based technology is a game-changer for operations in extreme environments," said Bill Frauenhofer, executive director for Semiconductor Investment and Innovation at the Department of Commerce. "I-Pulse’s high-power, high-frequency switches and packaging are engineered to withstand harsh shocks and temperatures, empowering critical industries to push past previous technical limits.”
As part of the deal, the Department of Commerce also received a minority, non-controlling equity stake in I-Pulse, a private US company set up to bring high pulsed-power technology into civilian sectors.