Whenever power has to flow from its source to destination some form of control system is necessary. As new sources of energy are explored - wind, tides, bio-fuels - the need increasingly arises for ever more efficient controlling systems to link the power into our power grids for distribution to the user. GaN, with its higher power and temperature capabilities, and hence efficiency, has the potential to create the next generation of power control systems that will make these new sources viable.

"In the broad area of power switching devices, there are a myriad of drivers and requirements, and there are many different attributes of power devices that attract attention ranging from high temperature operation, high frequency operation, or extreme power levels that are not attainable any other way. However, the one underlying theme in virtually every application discussed is higher efficiency. The reason high temperature is attractive to many designers is that it allows them to dispense with cooling systems that are heavy and cause their own efficiency issues. These improvements in electrical efficiency can have a significant impact in reducing overall electricity consumption worldwide, impacting virtually every aspect of electrical usage, ranging from information technology to motor control, with potential savings in excess of $30 billion per year."

Energy Efficient Wide Bandgap Devices, John Palmour, Proc. IEEE Compound Semiconductor Symposium 2006