Project PE2M - DER-IC Success in UKRI Supply Chains for Net Zero Competition for CIL

Driving the Electric Revolution Industrialisation Centres (DER-IC) has supported its partners in successfully winning nine bids in the latest Driving the Electric Revolution funding call from UK Research and Innovation.

The call opened on 8 March 2021 and allowed UK businesses to apply for a share of £22 million for innovation projects focused on supply chain development for power electronics, electric machines and drives (PEMD).

Project PE2M - Power Electronics Modules by Rapid Moulding

Project Partners:

• Ultrawise Innovation
• Tribus-D
• The University of Warwick
• DZP Technologies
• Custom Interconnect Ltd
• HPM
• Bioniqs

Aim of Project: Project PE2M is about restructuring the supply chain for power electronics modules for aerospace (and other) industries, in response to the increased need for power system integration to support the electrification of aircraft. This change will be facilitated by the introduction of power electronics modules containing silicon carbide (and gallium nitride) semiconductors by packaging using thermoplastic encapsulants.

In project PE2M, a new UK focused supply chain will be assembled to demonstrate the benefits of the thermoplastic encapsulation technology and the opportunities which this approach creates for suppliers, and users in aerospace.

One key advantage is that end users will be able to integrate their power electronic systems more easily through the use of specific modules, and this will support the electrification of the aerospace sector from More Electric aircraft, to hybrid, hydrogen and All Electric aircraft.

The partnership includes high volume supply chain companies specialising in interconnect and moulding, SME technology providers who have developed the innovative technologies in previous projects, recycling companies, and DER-IC – Midlands at Warwick University.