Sener coordinates SAGaN, the international consortium that will develop next-generation space electronics

The Sener engineering and technology industrial group participates in the international SAGaN consortium, an acronym in English for gallium nitride transistor for space applications, whose objective is the development of next-generation electronic components for especially demanding space missions and applications.

Sener is the company responsible for coordinating this consortium, in which Semi Zabala, Imec and Disco Hi-Tec Europe GmbH collaborate as partners, and will also be in charge of manufacturing original equipment for spacecraft and instruments that use gallium nitride transistors.

SAGaN aims to develop high-voltage gallium nitride transistors, an essential innovation for creating more advanced and efficient electronic equipment for space missions. These transistors offer higher performance than traditional silicon-based components. Gallium nitride transistors will therefore enable lighter and more efficient spacecraft that can withstand the extreme conditions of space, including radiation and vacuum-like pressures.

The consortium partners have the experience needed to carry out all operations for creating 650 V gallium nitride transistors for space, from design and manufacturing to processing and testing. This ability to create a complete supply chain for this type of transistors will strengthen the continent’s competitiveness in the aerospace industry.

“SAGaN not only reinforces our commitment to innovation and excellence in the aerospace industry, but also has the potential to raise energy efficiency standards in space, reducing the load on power systems and increasing the lifetime of missions,” highlights Miguel Pérez, Power Electronics Coordinator at Sener.

This project has received funding from the Horizon Europe Research and Innovation programme under the HORIZON-CL4-2021-SPACE-01-81 action: “Discrete power devices”.