SiC device market to quadruple by 2009
The SiC electronic device market will be worth over $50 million by 2009 according to a report by German market analyst Wicht Technologie Consulting (WTC).
The Munich-based firm says that although almost 80% of SiC substrates will be used for high-brightness blue, green and white LED manufacture by 2009, "fresh" markets will emerge for a new generation of energy-efficient, high-performance diodes and transistors used in power supplies and electric motors.
The company predicts that the global market for SiC Schottky diodes and transistors will increase from $13 million in 2004 to more than $53 million in 2009, at a compound annual growth rate of 32%.
WTC senior research analyst Olivier Nowak explains that the attractions of SiC Schottky diodes over their silicon counterparts - far lower losses when operated in forward bias and higher-temperature operation "“ result in smaller, more efficient power supplies.
The market for replacement power supplies that could contain SiC diodes is worth several billion dollars. He added that if these devices were used in conjunction with SiC MOSFETs, then ten-fold improvements in energy savings would be possible.
Despite the intrinsic advantages of SiC over silicon, Nowak says that commercial SiC-based products have so far been limited to Schottky diodes and MESFET RF transistors.
According to his report, today's SiC Schottky diode market is headed by the US company Cree, which holds a market share of 50%, and Germany-based Infineon. Cree also has a 95% share of the far smaller and less mature transistor market. Rockwell Scientific is the only other commercial supplier of SiC MESFETs.
"Materials issues with SiC substrates and supply chain deficiencies have compounded to keep prices high, especially for transistors," remarked Nowak, who added that today high-end power supplies are the only commercial application of power devices based on SiC.
Nowak believes that significant opportunities for SiC devices exist in power circuit management and industrial motor applications. He expects that the performance enhancements and energy savings delivered by SiC will initially impact the industrial and consumer sectors, followed by the transportation power supplies market.
According to Nowak, the opportunities for RF transistors in military applications, such as advanced radar and broadband communication, are still several years away.
WTC also expects Cree's dominance in the SiC substrate market to continue. However, it added that the Finland-based start-up Norstel, which also sells SiC substrates, will take a significant share of the relatively small European market for power device substrates.
