BHP-backed I-Pulse wins $250 million US CHIPS award for silicon-carbide semiconductors

Mining giant BHP-backed I-Pulse has secured a significant $250 million award from the U.S. Department of Commerce's CHIPS Research and Development Office. The funding aims to bolster U.S. semiconductor research, domestic manufacturing, and supply-chain resilience.

Co-founded by mining financier Robert Friedland, the company will use the investment to develop advanced silicon-carbide semiconductor components. These components are crucial for pulsed-power systems, which have diverse applications.

Potential uses for these pulsed-power systems include geothermal drilling, mining operations, rock crushing, general manufacturing, and defense. In geothermal drilling, for instance, the technology could increase drilling speed, extend drill-bit life, and reduce overall costs.

The initiative will be spearheaded by I-Pulse's team in Albuquerque, New Mexico, situated near key research facilities like Sandia National Laboratories and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory. The program will also involve collaboration with U.S. national laboratories, universities, and specialized manufacturers.