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Indian American professor awarded 2024 Millennium Technology Prize
Baliga, described by Forbes as "the man with the world’s largest negative carbon footprint," continues his work on improving energy efficiency.
Professor Bantval Jayant Baliga / Image- Millennium Technology Prize
Indian American electrical engineer, Bantval Jayant Baliga has been named the recipient of the 2024 Millennium Technology Prize for his pioneering invention of the Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT), which has revolutionized energy efficiency globally.
The prize, which comes with a a $1 million US$ (€1 million) award, is presented by the Technology Academy Finland in recognition of work that improves human well-being, biodiversity, and wider sustainability., The award ceremony will take place on Oct. 30 in Finland, with the prize presented by the President of Finland.
Baliga’s invention, developed in the 1980s, has played a crucial role in reducing worldwide electrical energy consumption and carbon emissions. The IGBT has become the most significant semiconductor device in making power usage more efficient, reducing fossil fuel consumption, and enabling the adoption of renewable energy sources.
The Winner of the 2024 #MillenniumTechnologyPrize is Prof. Bantval Jayant Baliga for his innovation IGBT, a little chip that has made him the person with the world’s largest negative carbon footprint!#MTP2024 #InnovationsForABetterLife
— Millennium Technology Prize (@millenniumprize) September 4, 2024
Watch the video:https://t.co/biWXPxBGMt
“It is very exciting to have been selected for this great honor,” said Baliga, the Progress Energy Distinguished University Emeritus Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at North Carolina State University.
“I am particularly happy that the Millennium Technology Prize will bring attention to my innovation, as the IGBT is an embedded technology hidden from the eyes of society. It has enabled a vast array of products that have improved the comfort, convenience, and health of billions of people around the world while reducing carbon dioxide emissions to mitigate global warming,” he added.
Baliga, described by Forbes as "the man with the world’s largest negative carbon footprint," continues his work on improving energy efficiency. His team is currently developing two new innovations aimed at enhancing the efficiency of solar power generation, electric vehicles, and power delivery for AI servers.
“The IGBT has already had and continues to have a major impact on supporting sustainability with improved living standards worldwide, while mitigating environmental impact,” said Minna Palmroth, chair of the board of Technology Academy Finland.“The main solution to tackle global warming is electrification and moving to renewable energy. The IGBT is the key enabling technology in addressing these issues.”
Since its development, the IGBT has reduced global carbon dioxide emissions by over 82 gigatons (180 trillion pounds), equivalent to offsetting all human-caused emissions for three years, based on the average emissions of the past three decades. It is widely used in wind and solar power installations, electric and hybrid vehicles, medical diagnostic equipment, and everyday appliances like air conditioners, microwaves, and portable defibrillators.
An alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, Baliga’s portfolio includes 123 U.S. patents, with several of his inventions already in widespread commercial use. Among these are the split-gate power MOSFET, used in computers and servers, and silicon carbide technologies that power modern electrical systems.
Professor Päivi Törmä, chair of the International Selection Committee of the Millennium Technology Prize, praised Baliga's contribution, noting, “Two-thirds of the electricity in the world is used to run motors in consumer and industrial applications. Professor Baliga’s innovation has allowed us to develop societies with electricity efficiently, while dramatically reducing energy consumption.”
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