SiC and GaN, two key segments for the power semiconductor industry
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The rapid evolution of the WBG compound semiconductor market between 2018 and 2019 has positioned both SiC and GaN as key materials within the power device market. There has been a remarkable shift of interest in SiC for automotive applications and in GaN for mainstream consumer applications.
“These applications will respectively drive the SiC and GaN power device market in the coming years,” explains Ezgi Dogmus, Technology & Market Analyst at Yole Développement (Yole). And she adds: “In H1-2020, the global COVID-19 outbreak has caused a significant slowdown of various end markets, especially the automotive and consumer segments, and thus has impacted the related power SiC and GaN market revenues.”
Driven by automotive applications, power SiC devices are prospering
Since the first commercialization of SiC diodes, the power SiC device market has been driven by power supply applications. Nevertheless, automotive is becoming the killer application, following SiC’s notable adoption for Tesla’s main inverters in 2018. Since then, different Tier 1-component makers, such as ZF and Bosch, and carmaker OEMs like BYD and Renault have recently made announcements on their adoption of SiC technology in some of their products. In the prospering SiC power market, the automotive segment is undoubtedly the foremost driver, and as such will hold more than 50% of total device market share in 2025.
“However, following the global Covid-19 outbreak, almost all automotive OEMs had to shut down and the supply chain faced significant disruption,” comments Ahmed Ben Slimane, Technology & Market Analyst at Yole. “In this context, we expect the power SiC market’s Y/Y growth to slow down to 7% in 2020, with a significant impact in Q2-2020 and Q3-2020.”
Power GaN: consumer players confirm its adoption
In the power GaN landscape, the market research & strategy consulting company Yole confirms a remarkable entry of several players into the high-volume consumer market, notably Power Integrations and Navitas. “For sure, the GaN power market is evolving rapidly,” comments Ahmed Ben Slimane from Yole.
Many phone OEMs including Oppo, Vivo, Realme, and Meizu opted for GaN based inbox fast chargers, released with their flagships in the beginning of 2020. Samsung, Huawei, and Xiaomi chose GaN for accessory chargers. This represents a first milestone for power GaN devices in a high-volume consumer market.
Driven by such consumer fast-charger applications, power GaN device market growth will be in the range of 167% Y/Y in 2019, with a market value of more than US$700 million in 2025. However, due to the COVID-19 outbreak, smartphone production is estimated to drop 20% in 2020. The impact of the pandemic is region and player dependent.
Compound Semiconductors Market: How Has the Covid-19 Outbreak Impacted the Emerging Power SiC and GaN Markets? – LIVE MARKET BRIEFING
Driven by EV/HEV and consumer fast-charger applications, the power SiC and GaN markets are expected to feel the short-term impacts of the Covid-19 outbreak. – On July 2 at 5.00 PM CET – 8 AM PDT Register today!
Yole’s Compound Semiconductor Quarterly Market Monitor on SiC and GaN power applications will be published every beginning of March (Q1), June (Q2), September (Q3) and December (Q4)… Aim of these services is to provide an in-depth coverage of rapidly changing market dynamics and main players’ status and strategy.
This is why Yole’s Quarterly Market Monitor will also evolve and incorporate step by step a new module on RF GaAs and RF GaN markets in the Q3 2020 edition, next to the existing Power GaN and Power SiC module. Stay tuned to i-Micronews to get further information about our Compound Semiconductor & Power electronics activities!
About the compound semiconductor team at Yole Développement
As a Technology & Market Analyst, Compound Semiconductors, Ezgi Dogmus, PhD is member of the Power & Wireless division at Yole Développement (Yole). She is daily contributing to the development of these activities with a dedicated collection of market & technology reports as well as custom consulting projects.
Upon graduating from University of Augsburg (Germany) and Grenoble Institute of Technology (France), Ezgi received her PhD in Microelectronics at IEMN (France).
Ahmed Ben Slimane, PhD. is a Technology & Market Analyst, specialized in Compound Semiconductors at Yole Développement (Yole). As part of the Power & Wireless team, Ahmed is contributing to the development of dedicated collection of compound semiconductors market & technology reports and monitor.
During this career, Ahmed Ben Slimane proposed lot of presentations towards an international audience. He authored/co-authored more than 20 publications in the semiconductor field, and submitted a patent on the III-V hetero-structure for PV industry.
Ahmed obtained his Master degree in Electronics Engineering from INPG (Grenoble, France).