Why is a Global Switcher IC Company Going on Walkabout with a Team of Swiss Students?
Mr. Green reporting from the #PowiGaNVaN
Power Integrations just announced sponsorship of αCentauri Solar Racing’s solar car in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge.
PI’s first ever involvement in this legendary race began last Spring, when ETH Zurich students Karim Bingoel and Aaron Griesser visited the Electric Vehicle Area of our booth at PCIM Europe, searching for a way to improve efficiency of their solar race car. Three great reasons make the sponsorship a natural fit for both PI and Team αCentauri: our shared commitment to energy efficiency, an intense drive to innovate and solve problems, as well as a passion for decarbonization.
Energy Efficiency is the First Fuel
PI has been an evangelist of energy efficiency since our founding in 1988. We are not only the leading innovator of energy efficient switcher ICs, but we’ve also steered both customers and regulatory bodies around the world for decades to push the boundaries of what’s possible in regard to energy efficiency. As several people like to say here at PI, “Energy efficiency is in our DNA.” Our mission is to create technologies that make it possible for the world to do and experience more great things with less…less energy consumed, less energy wasted, and less negative impact on the environment.
According to the World Energy Outlook 2019 report published by the International Energy Agency, “A sharp pick-up in efficiency improvements is the single most important element that brings the world towards the Sustainable Development Scenario.” The report also notes that efficiency will contribute 37 percent (making it the single biggest factor) towards achieving the Sustainable Development Scenario, the IEA’s map to meeting the sustainable energy goals stated in the Paris Climate agreement, by 2050.
When Bingoel visited our booth at PCIM, the thing he was most excited about was the energy efficiency we could add to their car. The design for the team’s car was already submitted, built and tested…but Team αCentauri continued its quest to improve energy efficiency until weeks before the solar car was shipped.
Power by Innovation
Evidence that Power Integrations is “Powered by Innovation” (our tagline) is shown via the 441 U.S. patents and 341 foreign patents award, in our gallium-nitride (GaN) leadership; and through a long list of company innovations, milestones and awards.
According to TopUniversities.com, “ETH Zurich is one of the world's leading universities in science and technology and is known for its cutting-edge research and innovation.” Ranked 11th in the world by The Higher Times Education, ETH Zurich “has produced over 20 Nobel Prize Laureates, including the father of modern physics and the inventor of the general theory of relativity Albert Einstein.”
As a first-time competitor in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, αCentauri isn’t focused on winning but instead is focused on what they can learn through innovation and practical application. Team member Griesser noted, “I’m mostly looking forward to the time before and after the race. Meeting the other teams and talking to them to learn and share ideas. It’s the main reason why I’m here in Australia.”
Commitment to Decarbonization
Both Power Integrations and Team αCentauri share a deep commitment to decarbonization. Team αCentauri named their solar car ‘Aletsch’ after the biggest glacier in the Alps in recognition of global warming and its effect on the glacier. Leadership at Power Integration has built a business on focusing on solutions to environmental problems. PI products are key enablers of a wide variety of clean technologies in wind and solar generation, power transmission and numerous energy-efficient industrial and consumer products.
Power Integrations is excited to sponsor and cheer on Team αCentauri to a successful trek through the Outback. Mr. Green is heading to Australia to follow them in the #PowiGaNVan and will report along the way. We hope you’ll follow us via this blog, our YouTube channel and social channels.
This Mr. Green blog is part of a special series of blogs, vlogs, livestreams and social posts from the #PowiGaNVan as we follow Team αCentauri through the Australian Outback for the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge.
