Pakal Technologies Inc., the company behind the creation of the Insulated Gate Turn-Off Thyristor (IGTO), which is a new generation and highly efficient silicon power semiconductor, has formed a partnership with Prohubs. The partnership seeks to fast-track the commercialization and adoption of the IGTO technology by Pakal in various markets around the world.
The partnership will see Pakal leverage on the strengths of Prohubs in the market growth and commercialization of new technologies, as well as their experience in Taiwan in introducing Pakal’s IGTO to various customers.
The company has managed to develop and validate the IGTO product line. The improved design features better efficiency than traditional power electronics structures like classic Thyristors and Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors (IGBTs). As a direct plug-in replacement to classic Fieldstop IGBTs, the new device provides substantial reduction in power losses due to conductivity. Due to the usage of standard silicon technology, the manufacturer can implement it without creating an entirely new manufacturing process, logistics chain, or a whole new system setup.
It should be noted that this innovation appeared timely. Electricity requirements worldwide experience rapid growth due to increasing use of artificial intelligence hardware, data centers, electric cars, renewable energy systems, and power-heavy manufacturing operations. In this context, it becomes important to consider the performance of power switches. Pakal provides a tool for decreasing energy waste without creating new system setups.
Although there is much effort from various industries in moving to wide-bandgap semiconductors such as silicon carbide and gallium nitride, Pakal works on enhancing silicon because of its maturity and common use as a semiconductor material. By enhancing silicon’s performance, the customers are able to realize high power efficiency in a cheaper, faster, and less risky manner.
As part of the agreement, Prohubs will handle customer relationships, design assistance, distribution of components, and commercialization activities. The main target areas are renewable energy systems, battery storage, heavy industrial power supplies, grid, and electric mobility.
“This is yet another move by Pakal towards expanding commercially,” according to the statement. The company is now scaling up its development of IGTO devices with voltage ratings in the range of 650 Volts to 2500 Volts. Besides that, Pakal is collaborating with some of the leading companies around the world in the use of ultra-high voltage with voltages greater than 3.0 Kilovolts through its high-voltage cooperation with Hitachi Energy.
“Through combining Pakal’s unique silicon-based hardware platform with Prohubs’ market access, both organizations look forward to assisting global industries to manage power more efficiently,” explains the companies’ leaders. With the rising demand for energy globally, there is a need for efficient management of power in the industrial sector.
