rePowerSiC HORIZON-EIC-2023-PATHFINDERCHALLENGES
Published October 8, 2025 | Version v1
Conference paper Open

Optical Power Converters based on SiC for space applications: the RePowerSiC initiative

Authors/Creators

  • 1. ROR icon Universidade de Santiago de Compostela
  • 2. ROR icon Technical University of Denmark
  • 3. Danmarks Tekniske Universitet Institut for Fotonik
  • 4. ROR icon Universidad de Jaén

Description

The RePowerSiC project has the potential to advance high-power energy transmission technologies for space-based applications. The objective is to develop innovative, ultra-efficient Optical Power Converters (OPCs) using silicon carbide (SiC) for in-space energy transfer at power densities reaching kW/cm2, with conversion efficiencies exceeding 80% over extremely long distances. These OPCs leverage various SiC polytypes, wide bandgap materials known for their exceptional thermal conductivity and radiation resistance. Such properties help reduce series resistance and intrinsic entropic losses in the photovoltaic receivers. Early findings suggest that SiC-based OPCs can significantly boost overall efficiency, enhance power density by an order of magnitude, and expand the potential use cases for high-power optical transmission systems.

Index Terms - optical power converter, silicon carbide, mod- elling, material growth, fabrication, space application.

Files

LAEDC_2025_Invited.pdf

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Additional details

Funding

European Commission
RePowerSiC - HIGH-EFFICIENCY HIGH-POWER LASER BEAMING IN-SPACE SYSTEMS BASED ON SIC 101160868