Wolfspeed and the Biophysical Economics Institute Announce Pioneering Study That Demonstrates the Superiority of Silicon Carbide for Energy Efficiency
October 25 2021 - 7:01AM
Business Wire
Wolfspeed, Inc. (NYSE: WOLF), the global leader in Silicon
Carbide technology, and the Biophysical Economics Institute (BPEI),
a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing the natural
sciences into economic analysis and decision making, today
announced the completion of a pioneering study that demonstrates
the superior performance of Silicon Carbide vs. traditional silicon
semiconductor devices in electric cars. When Silicon Carbide is
used in the powertrain of an electric vehicle, it delivers a 13:1
energy savings vs. the incremental energy invested, as compared to
traditional silicon chips. This significant energy conservation
allows for longer range, lighter weight and faster charging – all
of which foster lower long-term energy usage and enhanced
environmental sustainability.
The study, led by BPEI partner Hedgerow Analysis, LLC, uses
BPEI’s proprietary Energy Saved on Energy Invested (ESOI) metric,
which allows for an apples-to-apples comparison of energy
efficiency across applications and industries, taking into account
the long lifespan of many advanced technologies. This analysis
quantifies the energy saved over an equipment’s life cycle vs. the
incremental energy used in its production – with Silicon Carbide as
an illustrative use case. ESOI, a concept based in the natural
sciences, offers corporations, industry organizations and
non-profit groups an objective standard, based on measurable energy
and material flows, for evaluating the energy efficiency of any
technology.
“These methods represent a reliable, rigorous metric to quantify
environmental, social and governance benefits,” said Dr. Charlie
Hall, BPEI board member and co-chair, advisory board.
“ESOI-anchored decision making allows us to maximize the potential
of our precious natural resources, paving the way for a more
effective energy transition.”
Key findings of the study include:
- Replacing silicon insulated-gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs)
with Silicon Carbide metal-oxide semiconductor field effect
transistors (MOSFETs) produces substantial energy savings for
electric vehicles.
- The lifetime energy savings from employing Silicon Carbide
MOSFETs are many times the incremental energy required to produce
these devices.
- The ESOI for 400V vehicles is approximately 7:1 vs. a typical
EV sedan (400V Silicon Carbide MOSFET vs. 400V silicon IGBT).
- The ESOI of an 800V Silicon Carbide implementation in an EV
sedan is 13:1 (800V Silicon Carbide MOSFET vs. 400V silicon IGBT) –
an 85% increase vs. the 400V Silicon Carbide MOSFET, due to reduced
chip surface area and corresponding energy invested.
- The ESOI gain is greater for fleet vehicles, such as taxis and
delivery vans, with higher duty cycles.
- This analysis underscores the potential for large fuel savings
based on intelligent location of manufacturing hubs. Wolfspeed’s
operations in upstate New York, which offers ample clean energy via
hydroelectric power, has the potential to substantially increase
the ESOI of this technology.
“We believe the next generation in power semiconductor
technology will be driven by Silicon Carbide,” said John Palmour,
chief technology officer at Wolfspeed. “These study results
reinforce the superiority of Silicon Carbide and the direct impact
a more energy-efficient technology has on the reduction of carbon
emissions, which has a positive impact on the environment. As the
world shifts to a more sustainable future, it will need efficient
materials to power it.”
For more details on this study, please visit
https://bpeinstitute.org/views.
About Wolfspeed:
Wolfspeed (NYSE: WOLF) leads the market in the worldwide
adoption of Silicon Carbide and GaN technologies. We provide
industry-leading solutions for efficient energy consumption and a
sustainable future. Wolfspeed’s product families include Silicon
Carbide materials, power-switching devices and RF devices targeted
for various applications such as electric vehicles, fast charging,
5G, renewable energy and storage, and aerospace and defense. We
unleash the power of possibilities through hard work, collaboration
and a passion for innovation. Learn more at www.wolfspeed.com.
Wolfspeed® is a registered trademark of Wolfspeed, Inc.
About Biophysical Economics Institute (BPEI):
The BioPhysical Economics Institute is a non-partisan,
non-profit, multidisciplinary organization of scientists,
economists, investment experts, corporate & project finance
analysts and policy professionals, who are working together to
bring the natural sciences into economic analysis and decision
making. Specifically, BPEI aims to incorporate the analysis of
energy efficiency into assessments of various strategies to reduce
our reliance on fossil fuels, while supporting our natural habitats
and human flourishing. Learn more at www.bpeinstitute.org.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211025005261/en/
Wolfspeed Contacts: Media Relations Joanne Latham VP,
Corporate Marketing 919-407-5750 joanne.latham@wolfspeed.com
Investor Relations Tyler Gronbach VP, Investor Relations
919-407-4820 investorrelations@wolfspeed.com
BPEI Contact: Linda Guild Administrative Director
781-420-6551 lguild@bpeinstitute.org
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