Every time electricity gets converted — say, from solar panels to the grid, or inside a wind turbine — some energy is lost as heat. Current silicon chips handling this conversion waste quite a bit. This project used diamond, the hardest natural material, to build power switches that handle much higher voltages while losing far less energy. Think of it like replacing a leaky garden hose with an industrial-grade pipe — same water pressure, far less waste.
Power electronic converters — the devices that transform and control electricity in everything from wind turbines to industrial motors — waste significant energy as heat. Current silicon-based devices hit physical limits at high voltages, forcing engineers to accept losses and invest heavily in cooling systems. Companies in the energy and power electronics sectors need a semiconductor material that handles higher voltages with dramatically less waste.
The project worked toward fabricating a 10kV diamond power transistor in a high-power package and building a high voltage AC/DC converter based on diamond devices. Laboratory test validations were completed and documented across 12 deliverables.
If you are a renewable energy company dealing with energy losses during power conversion from turbines or panels to the grid — this project developed diamond-based power transistors rated at 10kV that could increase converter efficiency by a factor of 4, yielding a 75% reduction in losses. That means more of the energy you generate actually reaches paying customers.
If you are building fast-charging stations and struggling with heat management and efficiency at high voltages — this project built diamond semiconductor devices designed to handle 10kV with dramatically reduced thermal requirements. Less heat means smaller cooling systems, lower maintenance costs, and more compact station designs.
If you are a power electronics manufacturer losing margin to cooling costs and energy waste in high-voltage converters — this project demonstrated a high voltage AC/DC converter based on diamond transistors with a 75% reduction in conversion losses. The reduced thermal load means you can design smaller, lighter, and cheaper power modules.
Diamond semiconductor devices are still in pre-commercial stages, so unit pricing is not yet established for volume production. The project received EUR 3,983,756 in EU funding across 17 partners, indicating significant R&D investment is still needed. Early adoption would likely involve licensing the technology and co-development partnerships rather than off-the-shelf purchases.
The project targeted fabrication of a 10kV diamond transistor and a working AC/DC converter, demonstrating feasibility at laboratory scale. Commercially available electronic-grade diamond single crystals now exist, which is a prerequisite for scaling. However, moving from lab validation to mass production of diamond power devices will require additional manufacturing development.
The consortium of 17 partners across 6 countries includes 5 industry partners and 3 SMEs, suggesting IP is likely shared among multiple organizations. CNRS (France's national research center) coordinated the project. Licensing discussions would need to go through the consortium partners, with CNRS as the primary contact point.
The project states diamond offers higher blocking voltages, improved efficiency and reliability, and reduced thermal requirements compared to other wide bandgap materials like SiC and GaN. The consortium included partners already working with SiC and GaN, allowing direct comparison. Diamond is positioned as the next step beyond current wide bandgap solutions.
The project ran from 2015 to 2020 and achieved laboratory test validations. Based on available project data, diamond power electronics are still in the transition from lab to pre-commercial stage. Europe currently holds a competitive advantage in diamond transistor technology over non-EU competitors, making this a strategic window for early movers.
Power electronic devices must meet standard electrical safety and EMC certifications regardless of the semiconductor material used. Based on available project data, no diamond-specific regulatory barriers were identified. Existing certification paths for power converters would apply.
The GreenDiamond consortium brings together 17 partners from 6 countries (Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Luxembourg, UK), coordinated by CNRS, France's largest public research organization. The mix includes 5 industry partners and 3 SMEs (29% industry ratio), alongside 5 universities and 7 research institutes. This research-heavy composition reflects the early-stage nature of diamond electronics but the presence of industry partners — including an "innovative end-user" mentioned in the objectives — signals intent to move toward commercial application. The cross-European spread and blend of diamond growth specialists, power device designers, and packaging experts covers the full value chain needed to bring a diamond transistor from crystal to converter.
CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique), France — contact through institutional channels or project website
Want to explore licensing diamond power electronics or partnering with the GreenDiamond consortium? SciTransfer can arrange an introduction to the right research team.
