Gallium nitride power semi market set to soar
Global gallium nitride power semiconductor market will reach a staggering $1.75 billion by 2022, forecasts Markets and Markets. The US market research business expects the GaN power semiconductor market to reach $12.60 million by the end of this year with a phenomenal year-on-year growth rate of 60 to 80% leading to the $1.75 billion revenues by 2022. Apart from power semiconductors, GaN is predominantly used in opto-semiconductors, for LEDs and laser diodes. Markets and Markets reckons total GaN semiconductor revenues - for both power and opto-semiconductors - will reach $2.6 billion by 2022. GaN power devices currently draw most of their revenue from the ICT sector, as industry players have been focusing on nudging out silicon counterparts in a range of RF power devices. However Markets and Markets believes GaN devices also have huge revenue potential in solar cell arrays, satellites, high-end power appliances in the military and aerospace sectors as well as automotives, especially electric and hybrid electric vehicles. Today's GaN power semiconductor market accounts for less than 1% of the total power semiconductor market, and only has a handful of players. This number is expected to increase quickly over the coming years, with several power semiconductor industry giants and new start-ups entering the GaN power semiconductors sector. As the analyst also highlights, GaN power ICs have also fuelled revenue growth, with new power ICs such as MMICs and RFICs being launched following extensive research efforts. This contributed to the entire GaN power semiconductors industry shifting to mass-production in 2011 with its success and revenue potential attracting several power semiconductor market giants.
