Page 19 - Winter 2026

Industry News Industry News

MICROSCOPIC LASER

SILICON CARBIDE DRIVES TO REDUCE ENERGY

NEXT GENERATION CONSUMPTION OF

MODULAR UPS DESIGN DATA CENTRES

AI and hyperscale computing are creating rising Scientists at the Technical University of Denmark Professor Jesper Mork comments:
demand and rack densities in data centres. This is have developed a nanolaser that is envisaged
“ The nanolaser opens up the possibility of creating
being compounded by high energy costs and the to substantially reduce the energy consumption
a new generation of components that combine
rapidly fluctuating and unpredictable load profiles of data centres, as well as future computers and
high performance with minimal size. This could be in
associated with AI applications. smartphones, by enabling microchips to transmit
information technology, where ultra-small and energy
data using light instead of electricity.
Traditional uninterruptible power systems (UPSs), efficient lasers can reduce energy consumption in
designed to guarantee resilience and reliability, have Thousands of these tiny lasers are integrated onto a computers, or in the development of sensors for the
been manufactured using Insulated Gate Bipolar single microchip, allowing for optical data transmission healthcare sector, where the nanolaser’s extreme light
Transistors (IGBTs). on a scale that has hitherto been impossible. concentration can deliver high-resolution images and
ultrasensitive biosensors “.
Recent research, however, suggests that silicon The device is built around a nanocavity, an optical
carbide, or SiC, semiconductors potentially offer: structure that traps and concentrates light in a space Reference: New Electronics, Vol.59 Issue 3, March 2026, p.33
that is so small as to have made previous designs
• Higher efficiency and reduced losses - SiC
unattainable. When illuminated by an external
components exhibit lower electrical resistance
light source, both light and electrons gather in the
resulting in reduced energy losses, which helps to confined area, allowing the laser to function at room
maximise the overall efficiency of the UPS. temperature with minimal energy.
• Increased power density - making it possible The design is seen as being essential for the vision
to design more compact and lightweight UPS of chip-scale optical communication, since future
systems without compromising overall power microchips would require thousands of light sources
capacity. working simultaneously.
The SiC components require more energy to
• Increased thermal stability - SiC can operate at
manufacture, but this is offset by energy savings
higher temperatures than IGBTs enabling a higher
across the UPS lifecycle.
operational range and lower cooling demands.
It is foreseen that in the light of the research,
• Enhanced frequency response - faster switching
conducted by Riello UPS, who were shortlisted for this
capabilities produce a more responsive UPS,
year’s Data Centre World Innovation Product of the
which is critical for the handling of rapidly
Year Award, silicon carbide “will likely become the go-
fluctuating loads, such as those in AI applications.
to choice to help UPS manufacturers meet the needs
• Durability - SiC can withstand high surge currents of modern data centres’ ongoing demand for higher
and voltage spikes, reducing wear and tear, efficiency power infrastructure “.
providing extended component and UPS lifecycles Reference: Cutler, C., ‘How Silicon Carbide is changing Data Centre
and reducing maintenance costs. Power’, Data Centre Review, H1 2026, p.6-7

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