I-Pulse Inc. has been granted $250 million from the U.S. Department of Commerce through the CHIPS program to advance semiconductor components for a geothermal drilling technology that uses high-power electrical pulses. The company, co-founded by billionaire Robert Friedland, disclosed the award on Thursday and said its laboratories in New Mexico will play a central role in the program.
The CHIPS program funding is targeted at the development of silicon-carbide semiconductor devices and pulsed-power systems. According to company materials, the work is intended to move U.S. capabilities forward and to address the country’s dependence on foreign chip supply chains. I-Pulse plans to carry out the technical development in collaboration with U.S. national laboratories, academic institutions, and manufacturers that specialize in these components.
Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick said the investment strengthens America’s capabilities and enhances national and energy security goals. In its statement, I-Pulse added that the award supports the development of critical pulsed-power components that could have implications for both energy security and national defense.
I-Pulse is focusing on silicon-carbide switches that the company says will permit drilling in rock formations where temperatures are high, enabling geothermal energy development in such conditions. The company applies high-voltage switching to create intense electrical pulses that fracture rock in front of drill bits, a process the company says can increase drilling speed and extend the life of drill bits. The stated objective of the technology is to reduce drilling costs for geothermal power installations in granite and other high-temperature formations.
The Albuquerque team leading the effort will be headed by Dr. Rick Spielman and Dr. Randy Curry, the company said. Robert Friedland described that group as the largest concentration of pulsed-power experts assembled at a U.S. company. I-Pulse, which was founded in 2007, operates facilities in Albuquerque, Detroit, and Toulouse, France.
Note on available details - The company announcement and the Commerce Department statement describe the scope and intent of the award, but they do not provide a detailed development timeline or explicit commercial milestones in the information released alongside the award.