EPSRC IAA & N-ZEEE & RSE Workshop on Power Electronics for Extreme Environments successfully hosted at the University of Strathclyde

October 27, 2025

On 27 October 2025, the University of Strathclyde hosted the EPSRC IAA & N-ZEEE & RSE Workshop on Power Electronics for Extreme Environments at the scenic Ross Priory, Glasgow. The one-day event brought together 27 delegates from academia, industry, and government to exchange insights on next-generation power electronic systems capable of operating under extreme conditions.

The workshop opened with remarks by Prof. Weijia Yuan, followed by a memorial session honouring Prof. Fred Eastham, whose pioneering work laid the foundation for many of today’s advances in superconducting and high-power electronics. Dr. Yudi Xiao provided an overview of the workshop’s goals — to accelerate collaboration and define joint pathways toward robust, efficient power conversion in harsh environments.

Session Highlights
• Power Semiconductors: Talks from Dr. Bainan Sun (Infineon Technologies) and Dr. Sebastian Neira Castillo (University of Edinburgh) covered recent progress in GaN transistors and advanced gate driving techniques. Dr. Abdelrahman Elwakeel (Collins Aerospace) shared industry perspectives on electrified propulsion systems, followed by an ECR flash talk by Mr. Roshan Parajuli (University of Strathclyde) on superconducting aviation drives.
• Passive Components: Dr. Yann E. Bouvier (Universidad Rey Juan Carlos) and Dr. Yi Dou (Tyndall National Institute) presented emerging approaches to advanced magnetics and on-chip magnetic integration, complemented by an industrial insight from Mr. Lolan Naicker (Naicker Scientific Ltd) on payload development for in-orbit demonstrators.
• Converters: Dr. Ahmed Ammar (Technical University of Denmark) and Prof. Xiaoze Pei (University of Bath) discussed innovations in thermal management and cryogenic DC distribution, while Dr. Stefan Raabe (Airbus UpNext) presented cryogenic power electronics for aerospace applications, highlighting the industrial readiness of these technologies.

Each technical session was followed by structured group discussions to identify research barriers, emerging opportunities, and potential collaborations. The N-ZEEE Supergen Hub, introduced by Dr. Paul Judge, provided a framework for coordinating UK research efforts on zero-emission energy systems.