View source for Ultra Materials for a Resilient, Smart Electricity Grid

{{Organization
|OrganizationName=Ultra Materials for a Resilient, Smart Electricity Grid
|OrganizationType=Research and Development Agencies
|Mission=The mission of Ultra EFRC is to investigate and develop ultra-wide bandgap semiconductors for applications in creating a more resilient and smart electricity grid. It aims to enhance the efficiency, reliability, and size of power electronics used in grid infrastructure, thereby improving the integration of renewable energy sources.
|ParentOrganization=Office of Basic Energy Sciences
|TopOrganization=Department of Energy
|Budget=$12,400,000 (Four-year grant, 2020-2024)
|OrganizationExecutive=Director
|Services=Semiconductor research; Power electronics; Materials science; Thermal management; Electron-phonon interactions
|HeadquartersLocation=33.4201, -111.93376
|HeadquartersAddress=727 E Tyler St, Tempe, AZ 85281
|Website=https://research.asu.edu/ultra
}}
'''Ultra Materials for a Resilient, Smart Electricity Grid (Ultra EFRC)''' at Arizona State University is an [[Energy Frontier Research Centers|Energy Frontier Research Center]] funded by the [[Department of Energy|U.S. Department of Energy]]. 

Ultra EFRC focuses on the fundamental science of ultra-wide bandgap materials to revolutionize power electronics for a smarter, more resilient electricity grid.

{{Official URL (simple)|url=https://research.asu.edu/ultra}}

==Mission==

Ultra EFRC's mission is to advance the science of ultra-wide bandgap (UWBG) semiconductors to enable significant improvements in the efficiency, size, and reliability of power electronics within the electrical grid. The center's research targets the integration of renewable energy sources, reduction of energy losses, and enhancement of grid resilience through innovative materials science{{cite web |url=https://research.asu.edu/ultra/about |title=About Ultra EFRC |publisher= Arizona State University |access-date=February 5, 2025}}.

==Parent organization==

Ultra EFRC is hosted by [https://www.asu.edu Arizona State University] and receives funding from the [https://www.energy.gov/science U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science], specifically as part of the Energy Frontier Research Centers initiative.

==Legislation==

Ultra EFRC was established through funding from the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science without specific legislative action, as part of the DOE's efforts to advance energy science.

==Partners==

* University of Alabama at Birmingham
* University of California Riverside
* Cornell University
* Michigan State University
* Sandia National Laboratories
* Stanford University
* University of Bristol{{cite web |url=https://research.asu.edu/ultra/partners |title=Partners |publisher= Arizona State University |access-date=February 5, 2025}}

==Number of employees==

The exact number of employees isn't specified, but Ultra EFRC involves researchers from ASU and its partner institutions.

==Organization structure==

Ultra EFRC's structure is focused on:

* Research Themes: Including synthesis, thermal and electronic properties, and integration of UWBG materials.
* Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Leveraging expertise from physics, materials science, and electrical engineering.

===Leader===

Ultra EFRC is led by a [Director].

===Divisions===

* Synthesis and Impurity Incorporation
* Electronic Structure at Interfaces
* Electron-Phonon Interactions at High Fields
* Phonon Mediated Thermal Transport{{cite web |url=https://research.asu.edu/ultra/research |title=Research |publisher= Arizona State University |access-date=February 5, 2025}}

==List of programs==

* Development of novel UWBG materials for power electronics
* Research into electron-phonon interactions for better thermal management
* Studies on how these materials can be used to shrink and improve power substations

==Last total enacted budget==

Ultra EFRC received $12.4 million for the period from 2020 to 2024 from the U.S. Department of Energy{{cite web |url=https://news.asu.edu/20200803-asu-news-ultra-materials-spark-ideas-more-efficient-power-grid |title='Ultra materials' spark ideas for a more efficient power grid |publisher= Arizona State University |access-date=February 5, 2025}}.

==Staff==

Ultra EFRC involves scientists, postdoctoral researchers, and students from Arizona State University and its partner institutions.

==Funding==

Funding for Ultra EFRC comes from the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science, supporting research into advanced materials for grid technology.

==Services provided==

Ultra EFRC provides research services aimed at understanding and developing ultra-wide bandgap materials to enhance the performance of power electronics in the electricity grid, focusing on efficiency, size reduction, and resilience.

==Regulations overseen==

Ultra EFRC does not oversee regulations but conducts research that could inform future standards and practices in electrical engineering and grid technology.

==Headquarters address==

727 E Tyler St, Tempe, AZ 85281

==History==

Established in 2020, Ultra EFRC has been at the forefront of exploring how ultra-wide bandgap materials can revolutionize power conversion and distribution in the grid, aiming for a future where renewable energy integration is seamless and efficient.

==External links==

* [https://research.asu.edu/ultra Official Ultra EFRC Website]
* [[wikipedia:Energy Frontier Research Centers]]

==References==