which already account for roughly 2% of
global energy consumption.
Another way toward sustainability is
through reducing size and material
requirements. With miniaturized devices,
decreased passive requirements, and
the enablement of topologies with fewer
devices, SiC systems require significantly
fewer raw materials than their silicon
counterparts. For example, SiC systems
require less copper for interconnects
and less magnetic material for inductors
and transformers.
Notably, SiC has an extremely large
sustainability impact with respect
to thermal management and cooling
systems. Given that SiC is more efficient
than silicon, SiC devices burn less power
during operation and generate less heat.
Therefore, SiC-based power systems rely
less heavily on exotic cooling solutions
that necessitate raw materials like
C h a p t e r 2 | A c h i e v i n g a S u s t a i n a b l e F u t u r e w i t h S i C
Creating a more sustainable future
requires innovative solutions that
prioritize environmental impact
reduction and resource efficiency.
Prioritizing usage of materials like
SiC, which can be recycled from
aging components, can help close
the loop for renewable resources."
Gaman Munukoti
Sr. Systems Engineer, KOSTAL Group
C h a p t e r 2 | A c h i e v i n g a S u s t a i n a b l e F u t u r e w i t h S i C
Fig. 1: SiC enables sustainable applications like EVs and renewable energy.
12
Enabling a Sustainable Future with Silicon Carbide Power Electronics
