WBG materials, such as GaN and silicon carbide (SiC), are considered key technologies for the next generation of power semiconductors due to their higher energy efficiency, higher switching frequencies, and smaller size compared to conventional silicon-based devices. Both GaN- and SiC-based products are expected to experience rapid growth over the next decade, driven by demand from electric vehicles (EVs), inverters, data center servers, artificial intelligence (AI), renewable energy, industrial power conversion, consumer applications, and more.
“Customers benefit instantly from the new GaN products through turnkey reference designs that integrate technologies from both companies,” said Chris Allexandre, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Power at Renesas. “Adding GaN to our portfolio also reinforces our commitment to developing products and technology that make people’s lives easier. Providing robust and sustainable power solutions that save energy, reduce costs, and minimize environmental impact does just that.”
Investing in the energy business is a key part of Renesas' strategy for long-term sustainable growth. Other recent steps taken by Renesas to strengthen this market segment include: the opening of the Kofu plant, dedicated to manufacturing 300 mm wafers for power products; the commissioning of a new SiC production line at the Takasaki plant; and the signing of an agreement with Wolfspeed to guarantee a consistent supply of SiC wafers for the next 10 years. Now that GaN technology is part of Renesas' product portfolio, the company is well-positioned to offer more comprehensive energy solutions that meet the evolving needs of its customers across a wide range of applications.
On the same day it completed the acquisition of Transphorm, Renesas unveiled 15 new combinations—market-ready reference designs that combine new GaN products with Renesas' embedded processing, power, connectivity, and analog portfolios. These include designs for Transphorm's automotive-grade GaN technology integrated into onboard battery chargers, as well as 3-in-1 powertrain solutions for electric vehicles.
