The three-phase $2.25 million Silicon Carbide (SiC) Packaging Prize—launched by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Electricity—invites competitors to propose, design, build, and test state-of-the-art SiC packaging prototypes that move the industry beyond its current state.
Silicon carbide has become transformational to the power industry in countless applications across the industrial, energy, and automotive segments. SiC devices are prime candidates for future high-performance power electronics due to their high breakdown voltage, low switching loss, and high-temperature operation.
However, conventional packaging techniques limit the performance of SiC power modules due to parasitic inductance and heat dissipation issues. To enable grid-based applications, SiC power modules need to be expanded to higher voltage and higher current ratings.
Could your team’s innovative prototype be the winning solution? Find more information about submission requirements, judging criteria, and other important prize details in the Official Rules document.
Phases and Prizes
Phase 1 – Design Study
Competitors will describe their team, their plan to make progress toward SiC packaging, showcase their current prototypes, and provide evidence of their current metrics that are in alignment with the goals of the prize. The goal of this phase is to develop a set of design documents for a Phase 2 prototype which adheres to the requirements set.
Prizes: Up to 10 winners of $50,000 each
Phase 2 – Initial Demonstration
In Phase 2, winners from Phase 1 will showcase and demonstrate the advancements made during the prize competition in packaging solutions for SiC modules, meeting, exceeding, or making progress toward the Phase 2 performance metrics as outlined in the rules. This phase is designed to act as a milestone towards achieving the Phase 3 target with the goal of innovating towards an improvement over state-of-the-art packaging and creating transformative solutions.
Prizes: Up to 4 winners of $250,000 each
Phase 3 – Final Demonstration
Competitors will demonstrate an advancement in packaging solutions for SiC modules, meeting or exceeding the Phase 3 performance metrics as outlined in the rules. The goal of the final phase is to achieve the high voltage and high current targets, while continuing to innovate towards an improvement over state-of-the-art packaging and creating transformative solutions.
Prizes: Up to 1 winner of $750,000
Performance metrics required for each phase of the prize.
Performance Metrics*
Metric
Phase 2 Target
Phase 3 Target
Heat Flux**
500 W/cm2
1,000 W/cm2
Voltage Hold-Off***
4.5 kV
10 kV
Current Handling
1,500 A
2,000 A
Switching Characteristics
dI/dt > 80 A/ns
dV/dt > 100 V/ns
Voltage Overshoot < 5%
dI/dt > 150 A/ns
dV/dt > 150 V/ns
Voltage Overshoot < 5%
Max Case Temperature
85ºC
85ºC
Demonstrated Operational Time
90 minutes continuous at 20 kHz inductive switching
90 minutes continuous at 20 kHz inductive switching
* Benchmarked against a half-bridge module configuration with antiparallel diodes.
** Assumes liquid cooling.
*** Using commercially available die ≤1,700 V rated.
Informational Webinar
Join us on April 8 for an informational webinar to learn more about the SiC Packaging Prize. During the webinar, prize administrators will give an overview of the competition including key dates, submission requirements, scoring criteria, and prize pools. Plus, applicants will have an opportunity to ask questions during the live Q&A. Register today!
Can’t make the webinar? We’ve got you covered. A webinar recording will be made available on HeroX in the week following the live event.
Guidelines
Competitor Eligibility
Competitors must be associated with a for-profit business entity, such as a corporation or other organization that is formed in and maintains a primary place of business in the United States. One submission will be allowed for each team.
For more the complete application process and instructions for competing, please read the Official Rules in the Resources tab.
A recording of the SiC Packaging Prize informational webinar (and slides covered during the event) is now available in the Resources tab. During the webinar, the prize team covered competitor eligibility, key dates and submission deadlines, prize amounts, submission materials, and much more.
Resource Reminder
Read the Official Rules! The prize administrators highly recommend all applicants read the document in its entirely before submitting any application materials.
Ask questions in the Forum. A prize administrator will answer your question here publicly ASAP.
Don't forget about the upcoming informational webinar this Monday, April 8, at 11 a.m. ET.
During this webinar, the prize team will cover:
Competitor eligibility
Key dates and submission deadlines
Prize amounts
Submission materials
Live questions from attendees.
Register today to join! Can’t make the live event? We’ve got you covered. A recording of the webinar will be available the week after the event on HeroX. Make sure you’re following the prize on HeroX to receive an email notification when the recording is published, as well as other important prize updates.
Looking for more information on the Silicon Carbide (SiC) Packaging Prize? Join us for an informational webinar on Monday, April 8, at 11 a.m. ET. Register today to join! (Please note that the event was rescheduled from March 20, and if you’ve already registered for the event, you do not need to register again.)
During this webinar, the prize team will cover:
Competitor eligibility
Key dates and submission deadlines
Prize amounts
Submission materials
Live questions from attendees.
Can’t make the live event? We’ve got you covered. A recording of the webinar will be available the week after the event on HeroX. Make sure you’re following the prize on HeroX to receive an email notification when the recording is published, as well as other important prize updates.
Additional Resources
Read the Official Rules! The prize administrators highly recommend all applicants read the document in its entirely before submitting any application materials.
Ask questions in the forum. A prize administrator will answer your question here publicly ASAP.
