RICE

Power Lab

RICE Power Lab is the unified brand for three research groups operating within the Research and Innovation Centre for Electrical Engineering (RICE) at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of West Bohemia in Pilsen. The same three groups form the academic core of the Department of Power Electronics and Machines (KEV), which leads the related degree programmes and teaching activities at the Faculty. 

Our work covers the full engineering chain — from SiC and GaN semiconductor characterisation through high-performance electrical machines, multi-phase converters, and AI-driven control algorithms, to traction and drive systems validated at 4 MW. Built on more than 75 years of engineering tradition, we combine fundamental research with industrial deployment through long-standing partnerships across European industry and active leadership in Horizon Europe and national strategic programs.

The academic and research activities are organised into three sections: Power Electronics and Drives, Energy Conversions, and Intelligent Systems & Artificial Intelligence.  

Multi-phase converters and drives, modular multilevel topologies, SiC and GaN power conversion, traction systems for rail and e-mobility, wireless power transfer, solid-state DC circuit breakers, and pulsed power systems. The section bridges semiconductor-level innovation with full converter validation up to several megawatts of power. 

High-performance electrical machines for traction and industry, multi-phase machine design, transformers and magnetics, machine condition monitoring; energy storage, renewable integration, smart grids, and grid-forming converters. The section combines electromagnetic and mechanical design with system-level integration into modern power networks. 

Model predictive control, machine learning, Bayesian methods, fault detection, digital twins, and stochastic modelling of energy and transport systems. The section applies advanced computational methods that make system design faster, operation safer, and maintenance simpler.