The emerging market for Gallium Nitride (GaN) power semiconductors is forecast to grow from almost zero in 2011 to over $1 billion in 2021, according to a new report from IMS Research. The research firm analyzed all of the key end markets for the products and found that power supplies, solar inverters and industrial motor drives would be the three main drivers of growth.
While Silicon Carbide (SiC) power devices have been around for some years, GaN power semiconductors have only just appeared in the market. GaN is a wide bandgap material which offers similar performance benefits to SiC but has greater cost reduction potential. “This is possible because GaN power devices will be grown on a larger, lower-cost Silicon substrate,” stated Richard Eden, Senior Market Analyst and author of The World Market for Silicon Carbide & Gallium Nitride Power Semiconductors. “The key market driver is the speed at which GaN-on-Si devices can achieve price parity with Silicon MOSFETs, IGBTs or rectifiers with equivalent performance.”