The PEATER (Power Electronics Applications and Technology in Energy Research) group was founded in 2005 by Professor Philip Mawby, to establish a world-class centre for research into power electronics, power semiconductor devices and applications in power systems, and power conversion.

We carry out work in electrical energy conversion, from the very small power (mW) levels to very high power levels (MW). This technology centres on the developments in semiconductor switching devices. The developments in MOSFET and IGBT technologies have paved the way for new applications such as hybrid vehicles, electric aircraft, electric ship propulsion, wind turbines as well as the revolution in mobile phone and computing devices, where energy management is critical to all these applications.

The area of efficient electrical energy conversion has become critical in the development in energy systems. Renewable energy sources will be hooked into electrical energy networks using power electronics and power transmission, and distribution will become more reliant on power electronics to efficiently control and regulate electrical energy in an already congested electrical network. All forms of transport are becoming dependent on power electronics to provide more sustainable vehicles.

Spin-out company

Anvil Semiconductors was established in August 2010 as a spin-out from the School of Engineering to exploit patented developments in Silicon Carbide (SiC) power semiconductor technology.

Applications