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Practical Guide

CATL Condensed Battery: 500Wh/kg

CATL says its Condensed Battery reaches 500Wh/kg, uses a biomimetic electrolyte, and is planned for automotive-grade mass production. Its R&D spending exceeded RMB80bn over the past 10 years.

EV Marketsolid-state batteryCATL

Practical Guide

OCP Liquid Cooling Standards

As AI makes liquid cooling a baseline, OCP is standardizing Cold Plate, CDU, immersion, heat reuse, UQD, coolants, and multi-vendor supply.

Data Center Powerliquid coolingOCP

Practical Guide

Western EV Market Shifts

Western EV markets differ: Tesla's U.S. share fell from 60% to 38%, the U.K. ZEV mandate requires 22% BEV/FCEV, and HEV leads in the EU.

EV MarketEV marketZEV mandate

Practical Guide

Practical Guide to Power Semiconductors for Grid Stabilization: STATCOM, HVDC, FACTS

A comprehensive overview of power semiconductors for STATCOM and HVDC systems, which are seeing increased demand due to renewable energy integration. Covers Mitsubishi Electric's ±450MVAr track record, Infineon's 4500V IGBT modules, LCC vs. VSC technology selection, and procurement insights.

Power SemiconductorsSTATCOMHVDC

Practical Guide

DC Metrics: PUE and WUE

A guide to data center efficiency metrics: The Green Grid's PUE, WUE, Partial PUE, waste heat reuse, and the xUE family including PUE/WUE/CUE.

Data Center PowerPUEWUE

Practical Guide

U.S. Connected Vehicle Rule

The U.S. connected vehicle rule took effect on March 17, 2025, bans China/Russia VCS parts, sets MY2027/MY2030 deadlines, and has $1M penalties.

EV Marketconnected vehiclesupply chain

Practical Guide

Practical Guide to Power Semiconductors for Water Electrolysis: Green Hydrogen and SiC/IGBT

An overview of power electronics for water electrolysis systems in green hydrogen production. Explains the adoption of MW-class SiC, grid code compliance, onsemi/Infineon PFC/DC-DC solutions, and insights on CAPEX/OPEX.

Power SemiconductorsGreen HydrogenWater Electrolysis

Practical Guide

Emerging EV Markets and Chinese Cars

China held over 70% of global EV production and about two-thirds of sales in 2024. Brazil is over 85% Chinese cars, while Thailand uses EV 3.5.

EV MarketEV marketChina NEV

Practical Guide

Global EV Market Size to 2030

Global EV sales topped 17 million in 2024 and are expected to exceed 20 million in 2025, with the share projected above 40% by 2030.

EV MarketEV marketmarket size

Practical Guide

48V/400V/800V DC Power Compared

Compare in-rack 48V DC with +/-400V and 800V DC(HVDC), covering current, losses, power density, OCP, and NVIDIA's roadmap.

Data Center Power800VDCpower architecture

Practical Guide

Why Data Center Transformers Take So Long

Primary sources explain why transformer lead times delay AI data-center energization. Large transformer lead times doubled from about 50 weeks in 2021 to an average 120 weeks in 2024, prices rose 80%, and one U.S. manufacturer disclosed a five-year wait for new orders. CISA, DOE, and NERC show the three barriers: custom production, interconnection queues, and new large-load rules.

Data Center Powertransformergrid interconnection

Practical Guide

Data centers: 800V DC pros and cons

A quick guide to 800V DC power for AI data centers: up to 5% efficiency gain, fewer PSUs, higher density, and DC protection hurdles.

Data Center Power800VDCdata center

Practical Guide

DLC vs. immersion: data-center liquid cooling

A quick guide to data-center liquid cooling, split into direct liquid cooling(DLC/direct-to-chip) and immersion cooling(single-phase and two-phase). It explains cold-plate local heat removal, dielectric immersion, applicability, maintenance differences, and selection criteria based on primary and academic sources.

Data Center Powerliquid coolingdata center

Practical Guide

OCP Diablo: sidecar power racks

OCP's Diablo sidecar power-rack concept moves from in-rack 48V DC to ±400/800V DC to support 100kW to 1MW AI racks.

Data Center PowerOCP800VDC

Practical Guide

EV Charging Semis: OBC and DC Fast Charging

SiC/GaN adoption is accelerating for OBCs and DC fast charging. Covers 30% loss cuts, 50% density gains, 800V migration, V2X, and ASIL-D safety.

Power SemiconductorsOBCEV charging

Practical Guide

AQG 324 Automotive Power Module Qualification Practical Guide

Summarizes the test requirements for humidity, power cycling, thermal shock, and vibration defined by ZVEI/ECPE's AQG 324, specific qualification challenges for SiC MOSFETs, and how to address additional OEM requirements.

Power SemiconductorsAQG324Automotive Power Module

Practical Guide

TNFD Recommendations Practical Guide: LEAP Approach and Disclosure Practices

A practical guide organizing the TNFD's four-pillar structure, the LEAP approach (Locate/Evaluate/Assess/Prepare), value chain disclosure, and integration with SBTs for Nature.

SustainabilityTNFDNature-related Risks

Practical Guide

EU Taxonomy Regulation Practical Guide: 4 Criteria, 6 Objectives, and Disclosure Obligations

A practical guide covering the 4 taxonomy-eligibility criteria, 6 environmental objectives, disclosure obligations for turnover/CapEx/OpEx, and the delegated act schedule of Regulation (EU) 2020/852.

SustainabilityEU TaxonomyGreen Finance

Practical Guide

V2G and Smart Charging: How Far Along?

Grid-scale storage grew 40% to 108 GW worldwide in 2025, and negative power prices are becoming routine in Europe. The direction toward EVs as distributed energy assets via smart charging and V2G is visible, but standardization (ISO 15118-20) and regulatory and warranty barriers keep adoption early-stage. We separate potential from deployed.

EV MarketV2GSmart Charging

Practical Guide

Battery Costs and BEV Parity

IEA data shows China's battery prices fell about 30% in 2024. BEVs lead on price in China, while combustion cars remain cheaper in Germany and the US.

EV MarketBattery costsBEV

Practical Guide

EU Battery Regulation: PCF Reporting Practice

Organizes PCF reporting under Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 Article 7, the February 2027 obligation for the Battery Passport, and the connections between ISO 14067, PEFCR, and Scope 3 Category 11.

SustainabilityEU Battery RegulationCarbon Footprint

Practical Guide

Scope 2: Market-based and Location-based Methods

Explains dual reporting, 8 quality criteria, PPA inclusion conditions, and confirmation of Japanese market-based emission factors required by the GHG Protocol Scope 2 Guidance 2015.

SustainabilityScope 2GHG Protocol

Practical Guide

China IGBT Market: Is 30% Cheaper Worth It on TCO?

Is Chinese IGBT's 30%-lower price real competitiveness or a temporary offensive? We weigh the full TCO — AEC-Q101 cost, redesign hours, and supply risk.

Power SemiconductorsIGBTChinese Semiconductors

Practical Guide

Double Materiality Assessment: CSRD IRO Implementation

The first wave of CSRD started ESRS reporting in FY2024, while the second and third waves are subject to the April 2025 postponement. Considering the December 2025 Omnibus I, we break down IRO identification and IMA/FMA determination into practical procedures.

SustainabilityCSRDDouble Materiality Assessment

Practical Guide

Scope 3: Guide to Primary Data Collection from Suppliers

Supply chain emissions are estimated to be 11.4 times greater on average than direct operational emissions. Drawing on the GHG Protocol Supplier Engagement Guidance and the Ministry of the Environment Guide (v1.0), this article organizes who to collect primary data from, what to collect, and how far down the supply chain to go. Covers tier structure, the top-concentration principle, and approaches for small and medium-sized suppliers.

SustainabilityScope 3Supplier Engagement

Practical Guide

SiC Modules: Practical Thermal Design and TIM Selection

A practical overview of key thermal design considerations for SiC power modules. Covers TIM thermal resistance dominance, real-world liquid cooling flow rate examples, a comparison of top-side cooling and double-sided heat dissipation packages, and power cycle test standards — written for design and procurement engineers.

Power SemiconductorsSiCThermal Design

Practical Guide

IGBT to SiC MOSFET: Evaluating TCO and Miniaturization

The key criterion for deciding to switch from IGBT to SiC is not a device-level cost comparison, but rather how SiC-enabled downsizing of cooling systems and passive components changes the overall system BOM cost and product specifications. This article organizes application-specific decision frameworks and hybrid SiC as an intermediate solution.

Power SemiconductorsIGBTSiC

Practical Guide

GX-ETS: Emission Calculation and Reporting Guide 2026

Japan's GX Emissions Trading System (GX-ETS) launches as a mandatory scheme in April 2026, targeting GX League member companies with annual CO₂ emissions exceeding 100,000 tonnes (approximately 300–400 companies). This guide covers the end-to-end operational workflow for the first year of compliance, from inventorying emission sources and selecting calculation methods to third-party verification and integrated design with SSBJ disclosure.

SustainabilityGX-ETSEmissions Trading

Practical Guide

Human Rights DD: 6 Practical Steps for Mid-Cap Makers

Organizes the human rights due diligence required by CSDDD and LkSG into 6 actionable steps for mid-sized manufacturers. Covers what to document at each step—from policy formulation and risk mapping to grievance mechanisms and disclosure—to pass EU business partner audits, explained from a practical operations perspective.

SustainabilityHuman Rights Due DiligenceCSDDD

Practical Guide

SiC Suppliers: Alternative Sources to Reduce Wolfspeed Use

Wolfspeed's bankruptcy and restructuring has highlighted the risks of single-supplier dependency in SiC procurement. This guide compares Infineon CoolSiC, onsemi EliteSiC, ROHM, Mitsubishi Electric, Fuji Electric, and Chinese manufacturers on key characteristics and selection criteria, providing a framework for building a multi-supplier strategy.

Power SemiconductorsSiCWolfspeed

Practical Guide

CBAM: Practical Data Flow and Declaration Steps for EU

While EU importers bear the direct obligation to file under the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), Japanese manufacturers are responsible for calculating and providing embedded emissions data. This article systematically organizes roles by stakeholder, declaration workflows, and submission data requirements from a practical standpoint—covering quarterly reporting during the transitional period through annual declarations and certificate surrender from 2026 onward.

SustainabilityCBAMEU Regulations

Practical Guide

CDP: ESG Disclosure Maturity in Japanese Mid-Cap Makers

CDP response history helps procurement teams assess Scope 1 and 2 data readiness and ESG disclosure maturity in Japan.

SustainabilityCDPESG Disclosure

Practical Guide

Circular Economy: EU Rules Reshape Resource Cycling

EU circular economy rules are changing product design, waste management, and recycled-material procurement for manufacturers with EU-bound products.

SustainabilityCircular EconomyEU Regulations

Practical Guide

EcoVadis: Improving Scores in 4 Procurement Domains

EcoVadis is an ESG scoring platform widely adopted by major Western companies for supplier evaluation. Assessment covers four domains — environment, labor and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement. This article explains what each score band means and outlines the practical steps to reach the Silver threshold (50 points).

SustainabilityEcoVadisProcurement Evaluation

Practical Guide

ESG Data Management: Designing Collection and Disclosure

As ESG disclosure mandates advance, building infrastructure for data collection, aggregation, and reporting has become a pressing operational need. This article examines the limits of spreadsheet-based management, criteria for selecting dedicated tools, and how to design internal data flows — from the perspective of building a disclosure-ready system.

SustainabilityESG DataDisclosure Infrastructure

Practical Guide

European OEMs: SiC Procurement Shift

VW, BMW, and Stellantis are redesigning SiC procurement. This article maps integration, long-term contracts, diversified sourcing, and Tier 1 impacts.

Power SemiconductorsSiCEuropean OEM

Practical Guide

GaN-on-Si: The Next Decade of Industrial Power Electronics

GaN-on-Si is displacing silicon in low-to-mid voltage applications below 650V. Having gained an early foothold in EV on-board chargers, this technology is now extending its reach into industrial motor control, telecom power supplies, and industrial UPS. This article examines adoption trends by application and the key procurement considerations.

Power SemiconductorsGaNPower Semiconductors

Practical Guide

Human Rights Due Diligence: Practical Guide for Makers

Against the backdrop of Japan's National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights (2021–2025) and pressure from the EU's CSDDD, supply chain-wide human rights due diligence has become a practical challenge for Japanese manufacturers. This article outlines the basic structure — what to identify, how to respond, and what to disclose — and clarifies response priorities.

SustainabilityHuman Rights DDSupply Chain

Practical Guide

India Manufacturing: Green Shift via PLI and BRSR Schemes

India is strengthening manufacturing through PLI while advancing BRSR Core disclosure. This article frames supplier evaluation for global procurement.

SustainabilityIndiaPLI

Practical Guide

J-Credit: Practical CO2 Reduction Guide for Manufacturers

The J-Credit Scheme allows manufacturers to convert CO2 reductions from energy-efficient equipment installation, renewable energy use, and forest management into certified credits, which can then be applied to GX-ETS compliance or Scope 2 reduction. This article covers the most useful methodologies for manufacturers and key practical considerations in the application process.

SustainabilityJ-CreditEnergy Efficiency

Practical Guide

Power Modules: Comparing Tier 1 Supplier Competitiveness

This article benchmarks six leading power module suppliers — Infineon, onsemi, STMicro, Mitsubishi Electric, Fuji Electric, and Rohm — across four dimensions: product lineup, SiC capability, supply capacity, and price competitiveness. The findings are intended as a reference for procurement source selection.

Power SemiconductorsPower ModulesSupplier Comparison

Practical Guide

Renewable Energy: Comparing J-Credit, NFC, and PPA

There are three primary options for reducing Scope 2 emissions: J-Credits, non-fossil certificates (FIT and non-FIT), and PPAs. Because they differ in cost, ease of implementation, and eligibility for initiatives like RE100, companies must choose the right mix for their specific situation. This article organizes the characteristics of each option and provides a selection framework.

SustainabilityRenewable Energy ProcurementJ-Credit

Practical Guide

SBTi SME Program: Practical Application Guide and Changes

SBTi (Science Based Targets initiative) offers a simplified commitment pathway for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This article organizes the differences from the standard track, the preparation required for application, and practical examples from Japan. It serves as a practical reference for mid-size manufacturers that have begun to receive SBTi commitment requests from major customers.

SustainabilitySBTiSME

Practical Guide

Scope 3: Category Measurement and Priorities for Makers

The GHG Protocol classifies Scope 3 into 15 categories. When manufacturers disclose their value chain emissions, the categories that should be prioritized depend on their industry and supply chain structure. This article organizes a prioritization approach based on emissions weight and measurement difficulty.

SustainabilityScope 3GHG Protocol

Practical Guide

SiC Modules: Next-Gen Packaging and Thermal Design Trends

Performance limitations in SiC power modules are often attributable to packaging rather than the devices themselves. The shift from gel encapsulation to epoxy and ceramic encapsulation, and the adoption of double-sided cooling structures, are packaging and assembly technology trends that will determine the competitiveness of next-generation SiC systems.

Power SemiconductorsSiCPower Module

Practical Guide

Solar Inverter Power Devices: Si IGBT vs SiC vs GaN

How solar PCS choose between Si IGBT, SiC MOSFET, and GaN-on-Si by application and output scale — selection criteria and supplier positioning.

Power SemiconductorsSolar PowerPower Conditioning System

Practical Guide

TCFD: Financial Impact and Physical Risk Quantification

TCFD framework-based climate risk disclosure requires estimating the financial impact of transition and physical risks on financial statements. This work — which is also essential for compliance with SSBJ and ISSB standards — involves organizing the conceptual approach and the specific impact pathways for manufacturers.

SustainabilityTCFDClimate Risk

Practical Guide

AI Server Power Supplies: GaN Adoption Criteria

Deciding whether to adopt GaN in AI server power supply design isn't solely based on it being "next-generation technology"; it requires confirming GaN's clear advantages over SiC and Si along the three axes of switching frequency, power density, and thermal design.

Power SemiconductorsAI serverGaN

Practical Guide

Chinese SiC Manufacturers: Selection Criteria

Many teams are internally divided on whether to adopt Chinese SiC manufacturers, with some voicing concerns about quality and others emphasizing the undeniable cost factor, but responding to this question with a simple "not adopting because it's Chinese" or "adopting because it's cheap" is too simplistic a judgment; what is being asked is how and what to verify.

Power SemiconductorsChinaSiC

Practical Guide

EV SiC Inverters: Loss Calculation and Range Improvement

A 1% increase in conversion efficiency for EV inverters translates to a difference of several kilometers in driving range; when design engineers face the challenge of improving real-world efficiency beyond catalog values, the first question they encounter is "which losses to calculate and how." Without correctly decomposing the loss breakdown, SiC may not yield the expected efficiency improvements.

Power SemiconductorsEVSiC

Practical Guide

SiC vs. GaN for EV Applications: Choosing the Right Material

The adoption of 800V battery systems is accelerating, exemplified by the Porsche Taycan, Hyundai IONIQ 6, and Kia EV6, all of which have transitioned from traditional 400V architectures to double the voltage to shorten charging times and improve driving efficiency, a trend directly impacting power device selection, as evidenced by Si

Power SemiconductorsEVGaN

Practical Guide

GaN Power Semis: Miniaturization and Efficiency Benefits

If you've ever wrestled with improving power conversion efficiency by a single point in inverter design, the numbers alone tell you what GaN (Gallium Nitride) has changed: while silicon MOSFETs hit a wall at tens of kHz switching frequencies, GaN handles up to several MHz, enabling smaller passive components (inductors, capacitors).

Power SemiconductorsGaNpower semiconductor

Practical Guide

Industrial Inverters: SiC MOSFET Reliability Evaluation

When considering SiC MOSFET adoption in industrial inverter design, the focus often falls on loss and switching speed. However, a more understated and fundamental question that frequently becomes a practical concern in the field is the device's survivability during load short circuits, as the nature of applications differs between EVs and industrial equipment, where inverters are operational.

Power SemiconductorsSiCindustrial

Practical Guide

Evaluating the Adoption of ROHM's 5th Generation SiC MOSFET

As the next generation of SiC MOSFETs emerges, many companies are asking, "We want to evaluate the 5th generation, but where do we start?" Considering Rohm's announced 4th generation features of low on-resistance (RonA) and high short-circuit withstand capability, evaluation of the 5th generation must go beyond device specifications alone, encompassing compatibility with protection circuits and thermal design considerations.

Power SemiconductorsROHMSiC

Practical Guide

SiC 8-inch Wafer Supply System

While SiC power semiconductor wafer sizes are transitioning from 6-inch (150mm) to 8-inch (200mm), a significant gap remains between the commencement of this transition and the establishment of a stable supply chain; when assessing the 8-inch wafer supply chain from a design and procurement perspective, the pace of transition is a critical factor.

Power Semiconductors8-inch SiCSiC

Practical Guide

Key Considerations for Selecting SiC Gate Drivers

As SiC MOSFET adoption accelerates, gate driver selection increasingly dictates design quality; the key lies in SiC devices' smaller die size and higher current density, leading to significantly faster temperature rises during short circuits compared to silicon (Si) devices, necessitating a different approach to protection circuit design.

Power SemiconductorsSiCgate driver

Practical Guide

SiC Modules vs. Discrete Components: Selection Criteria

Once the decision to use SiC is made in the early stages of inverter design, the next question is whether to opt for modules or discrete components, a choice that, while appearing to be merely an implementation form, fundamentally impacts system performance, board area, protection circuit design, and procurement flexibility.

Power SemiconductorsSiCpower module

Practical Guide

SiC Wafer Price Trends and 2026 Outlook

The SiC power semiconductor market in 2024 saw slower-than-expected demand growth, prompting some manufacturers to revise production plans. This "plateau" situation directly impacts a wide range of decisions, from cost calculations for device design to the reassessment of procurement strategies, raising questions about wafer price movements. To discuss the outlook for 2026, we must first consider

Power SemiconductorsSiCSiC wafer

Practical Guide

Navigating SiC Wafer Procurement Risks

As the adoption of SiC (Silicon Carbide) power semiconductors accelerates, securing a stable supply of wafers is increasingly becoming the biggest bottleneck after design completion, as even the most advanced devices selected during the design phase cannot be mass-produced without available wafers; therefore, to manage supply chain risks, it is crucial to structurally understand "how and where bottlenecks occur in each process.

Power SemiconductorsSiCSiC wafer

Practical Guide

Wolfspeed: Changing SiC Procurement Risks Post-Restructure

Wolfspeed emerged from Chapter 11 in September 2025. While the risk of financial insolvency has been resolved, the Mohawk Valley Fab continues to run at utilization rates in the low 20s, shifting the fundamental risk from 'bankruptcy concern' to 'utilization-rate dependency.' Drawing on the strategic equity relationship with Renesas and Q3 FY2026 results, this article reexamines the evaluation criteria for SiC procurement.

Power SemiconductorsSiCWolfspeed