€250,000 semiconductors in conventional power station, €7.5 million in windfarm
Infineon Technologies is global market leader in power semiconductors for the ninth consecutive year, according to IHS IMS Research, Infineon held an 11.9% share of the total $17.6 billion market for power semiconductors, in 2011. With a growth rate of nearly 21%, Infineon revenue in the segment grew 2½ times faster than the 8.3% growth of the power semiconductors market. Among the top 3 suppliers in 2011 were Mitsubishi with a market share of 8.3% and Toshiba with 6.6%. In 2010, Infineon held 10.7% of the total market of $16.2 billion. "Already today about 30% of the electricity consumed worldwide could be saved through the consistent use of semiconductors. Innovation by Infineon is key to enabling this level in industrial, automotive and consumer applications," says Dr. Reinhard Ploss, CEO of Infineon Technologies. "We are continuously researching new materials for power semiconductors, such as SiC (silicon carbide ) and GaN (gallium nitride), and developing advanced processes such as 300-mm thin wafer technology for power semiconductors, to reinforce our leadership role in technology and manufacturing." One reason demand for Infineon power semiconductors could be in for more rapid growth lies in the role they have to play in the shift toward renewable energy sources. The value of the semiconductors installed per MW of capacity in renewable generation systems is an order of magnitude higher than the equivalent figure for conventional technologies. A conventional power station with capacity in the 1 to 1.5 GW range contains around €250,000 worth of semiconductors, for example, whereas a wind farm of the same capacity contains semiconductors worth around €7.5 million. IMS Research Infineon Technologies
