• Compound Semi. Monitor timeline
• Terminology and definitions
  • Supply chain and business model
  • Suppliers’ capacity
  • Open and captive market
  • Applicative power electronics market segments
• Changes since previous quarter and what to look out for
• Compound semiconductor-based power market comparative analysis
  • Power devices as a function of power and frequency
  • Power device market revenues : SiC vs. GaN vs Silicon

Module I: SiC power and GaN markets

• SiC power market overview
• SiC power market forecasts
• SiC power technology
• SiC power market players
• GaN power market overview
• GaN power market forecasts
• GaN power technology
• GaN power market players
• Compound Semi. monitor timeline

Module II

• Terminology and definitions
  • Open and Captive market
  • Supply chain and business models
  • Focus on the Chinese ecosystem
  • RF electronics application market segments
• Compound Semiconductor-based RF market comparative analysis
• RF GaN market overview
• RF GaN market forecasts
• RF GaN technology
• RF GaN market players

SiC and GaN compound semiconductors have become key segments in the power semiconductor industry

SiC and GaN are continuing their rapid market evolution from 2018-2019, but now have different drivers behind their growth. After Tesla’s adoption of SiC in its inverters, another trend is reshaping the electric vehicle (EV) market, namely fast 800V EV charging allowing shorter charging stops. SiC is the enabler, with promising performance and a growing supply chain. As of 2022, we’ve seen high-volume EVs including BYD’s Han and Hyundai’s Ioniq5 using SiC. Top device players, such as STMicroelectronics, Infineon, Wolfspeed, onsemi and ROHM, delivered record revenue in 2021. They will each move forward to $1B SiC revenue in the 2023-2025 timeframe. Apart from automotive, now industrial, energy and rail applications provide extra momentum to grow. The capacity build-up, business integration and new business models will bring SiC to another level in years to come.
Meanwhile, GaN continues entering consumer applications, mainly fast chargers for smartphones. Power Integrations and Navitas are leading the market with multiple design-wins with phone makers. Innoscience also announced shipments exceeding 30M devices by 2021. Recently, Navitas and GaN Systems announced shipping to Samsung for GaN-based 45W accessory mobile fast chargers. In Q1-22, Navitas have achieved two design wins for in-box chargers. In Q4-21, Apple adopted GaN in the MacBook pro charger for the first time, featuring GaN Systems’ devices. In the long term, telecom and datacom applications will need high efficiency power conversion to meet CO2 emission objectives. The on-board chargers and DC-DC converters in EVs are opportunities for GaN to grow to a $2B business in 2027. Several players like EPC, Transphorm and Texas Instruments already have automotive-qualified products and are actively working on designs for EV.

A different story for GaN and SiC in RF applications

For many years, RF GaN has been used to build 4G base stations because of its outstanding performance in the power amplifier stage. Meanwhile, defense applications consistently stretch the demand for RF GaN in military radar and electronic warfare systems. However, with the US ban on Huawei, Covid’s impact and slowdown of base station deployment, RF GaN faced an adjustment period in 2021. That directly influences the market in 2022. For example, we show the change of growth rate in our forecast for semi-insulating SiC wafer shipments. As base station deployment recovers and penetration of RF GaN in high-frequency, beam-forming systems increases in the years to come, we will keep tracking the latest movement at each level of supply chain.

To reflect the dynamic and complex compound semiconductor market, this CS Monitor provides the latest updates on market value, supply chain evolution and insight into key players’ business on a quarterly basis.
With our CS quarterly market monitor, Yole Développement also offers the opportunity for direct discussion with our analysts.

STMicroelectronics, Wolfspeed, ROHM, Infineon, onsemi, Mitsubishi Electric, Showa Denko, II-VI, EPC, Power Integrations, Transphorm, GaN Systems, Navitas, Innoscience, IQE, Qorvo, SICC, Sumitomo Electric, AXT, Sumitomo Electric and more