The global wide band gap (WBG) semiconductors market size accounted for USD 2.13 billion in 2024 and is predicted to increase from USD 2.44 billion in 2025 to approximately USD 8.42 billion by 2034, expanding at a CAGR of 14.74% from 2025 to 2034. The market growth is attributed to the increasing adoption of SiC and GaN semiconductors in electric vehicles, 5G infrastructure, and energy-efficient power systems.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the wide band gap semiconductor market, accelerating innovation in research and commercial applications. AI-powered tools enable engineers to model and simulate the behavior of SiC and GaN materials, reducing the need for experiments and prototyping costs. AI also supports predictive maintenance in WBG semiconductor fabrication plants, minimizing downtime and improving yield consistency.
The Asia Pacific wide band gap (WBG) semiconductors market size was exhibited at USD 0.98 billion in 2024 and is projected to be worth around USD 3.92 billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 14.87% from 2025 to 2034.
What Made Asia Pacific the Leading Region in the Global Wide Band Gap Semiconductors Market in 2024?
Asia Pacific led the wide band gap semiconductors market in 2024, capturing the largest revenue share of 46%. This dominance is attributed to the region's vibrant manufacturing ecosystem, particularly in countries like China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, where WBG fabs and semiconductor supply chains are well-established. The increasing adoption of electric vehicles, industrial automation, and consumer devices has driven a surge in the use of SiC and GaN-based technologies in power modules and RF devices. Moreover, initiatives by Samsung Electronics and LG Innotek to incorporate WBG semiconductors in power distribution systems (PDS) for next-gen data centers are further boosting the market in this region.
North America is projected to experience the fastest market growth during the forecast period, driven by increased federal spending, the reshoring of semiconductor manufacturing, and modernization projects supporting defense activities. In 2024, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funded national labs under its SiC-based power conversion systems program for grid, aerospace, and EV applications. The CHIPS and Science Act has spurred plant expansions by companies like onsemi, Wolfspeed, and Texas Instruments to boost WBG wafer and die production in the U.S. Additionally, research institutions such as NIST, MIT, and Stanford University have established new reliability benchmarks for GaN RF devices in defense and satellite systems. In June 2024, a collaboration between the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), GE Vernova, and ABB demonstrated the integration of SiC in solid-state transformers for grid-scale battery storage, improving efficiency and fault tolerance. The rising demand from telecom OEMs and industrial automation integrators for WBG semiconductors is also contributing to market growth.
(Source: https://docs.nrel.gov)
(Source: https://www.nrel.gov)
Wide Band Gap (WBG) Semiconductors are semiconductor materials with a band gap significantly greater than that of conventional semiconductors like silicon (Si). Typical band gap values exceed 2 electron volts (eV). These materials, including Silicon Carbide (SiC), Gallium Nitride (GaN), and others, enable devices to operate at higher voltages, temperatures, frequencies, and power levels, making them ideal for next-generation power electronics, RF devices, and optoelectronic applications.(Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com)
The growing trend of electrification and energy efficiency across transportation, industrial, and renewable energy sectors is fueling a surge in demand for wide band gap (WBG) semiconductors. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) projects a significant reduction in inverter losses in 2024 with SiC-based power devices, boosting EV drivetrain efficiency. The JEITA reports a substantial year-over-year increase in global WBG device shipments throughout East Asia, driven by industrial automation and grid modernization. The global push for decarbonization and high-performance electronics is expected to further expand the use of WBG semiconductors in electrification projects worldwide. (Source: https://www.jeita.or.jp)
Report Coverage | Details |
Market Size by 2034 | USD 8.42 Billion |
Market Size in 2025 | USD 2.44 Billion |
Market Size in 2024 | USD 2.13 Billion |
Market Growth Rate from 2025 to 2034 | CAGR of 14.74% |
Dominating Region | Asia Pacific |
Fastest Growing Region | North America |
Base Year | 2024 |
Forecast Period | 2025 to 2034 |
Segments Covered | Material Type, Device Type, Wafer Size, Application, End-use Industry, and Region |
Regions Covered | North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa |
How Is the Increasing Adoption of Electric Vehicles Driving the Growth of the Wide Band Gap Semiconductors Market?
Increasing adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) is expected to drive the market for WBG semiconductors in the coming years. Automobile manufacturers utilize silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) components to enhance powertrains, reduce battery losses, and minimize the size of onboard chargers and inverters. The materials offer higher switching speeds, reduced conduction losses, and improved thermal properties compared to conventional silicon. The world's efforts toward zero-emission transportation and high fuel economy levels are still promoting the manufacturing of EVs. Tesla, BYD, and Volkswagen manufacturers are producing their electric platforms with more WBG-based components. The trend supports the investment in SiC substrates and high-volume GaN production in supply chains.(Source: https://www.iea.org)
The collaboration with major automakers has grown in the rapid deployment of WBG in electric drivetrains, as part of the Department's Vehicle Technologies Office initiative. A 2024 update by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) asserts that the use of SiC inverters achieves efficiencies of up to 5% in EV drivetrains, which have direct implications for driving range and the overall weight of the system. Furthermore, the growing sales of EVs are fuelling the demand for wide band gap semiconductors in the coming years. The International Energy Agency (IEA) reported that in 2024, Asia reached more than 14 million global EV sales, which showed a 35% increase compared to 2023. (Source: https://www.evengineeringonline.com)
High Cost
Material and manufacturing costs are too high to promote large-scale adoption, which is likely to restrict market penetration in price-driven markets. Complex and cost-prohibitive crystal growth, substrate, and wafer processing technologies are involved in WBGs. These processes are costly to manufacture because, compared to standard silicon, they require specialized equipment and must be tightly controlled in terms of quality. Furthermore, such a difference in costs becomes particularly relevant in applications where cost is a significant factor, such as in consumer electronics or low-margin industrial systems.
How Is the Growing Demand for Energy-Efficient Power Electronics Accelerating the Wide Band Gap Semiconductors Market Growth in the Future?
The growing demand for energy-efficient power electronics is expected to create significant opportunities for the market. By comparison with silicon, the same size of WBG semiconductor has a higher thermal conductivity and a higher breakdown voltage, allowing efficient designs. Utilities use GaN-based transistors on smart grids and solid-state transformers to distribute the load in a smarter way. Such innovations comply with energy legislation in various parts of the globe, as well as grid modernization programs in the U.S., EU, China, and Japan.
(Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com)
SiC devices guarantee their stable operation in highly varying environmental conditions in renewable energy systems such as solar inverters and wind turbine converters. In 2024, Mitsubishi Electric and Wolfspeed jointly announced plans to focus on deploying SiC modules in large wind energy schemes, which could comprise hundreds of wind turbines in Japan and Europe. Furthermore, the grid components of future generations that rely on WBG devices to convert power, facilitate demand response, and regulate voltage, will thus further facilitate the market in the coming years. (Source: https://www.meu-semiconductor.eu)
How Does the Silicon Carbide Segment Dominate the Market in 2024?
The silicon carbide (SiC) segment led the wide band gap semiconductors market, holding a 58% market share in 2024. This dominance is attributed to SiC's ability to minimize energy loss and improve powertrain performance, making it a preferred choice for electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers in traction inverters, onboard chargers, and DC-DC converters. Companies like Infineon Technologies, onsemi, and STMicroelectronics increased SiC device production in 2024 to meet rising demand.
SiC adoption is also driven by industrial applications such as high-power motor drives and renewable energy inverters, where reliability and power density are critical. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) supported public-private collaborations and accelerated R&D of SiC for EV systems in 2024, aiming for increased domestic production. Furthermore, SiC-based converters in solar-plus-storage systems also contributed to segment growth.
(Source: https://www.energy.gov)
The gallium nitride (GaN) segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR in the coming years, driven by its use in telecom, consumer electronics, and rapid charging applications. GaN's high-frequency operation and excellent efficiency at lower voltages make it ideal for compact, lightweight applications like 5G base stations, satellite communications, and laptop adapters. The increasing adoption of GaN in powering ICs for consumer products and network infrastructure further fuels segment growth.
What Made Power Devices the Dominant Segment in the Wide Band Gap Semiconductors Market in 2024?
The power devices segment dominated the market while holding a 52% share in 2024, due to increasing applications in electric vehicles (EVs), industrial motor drives, and renewable energy systems. Silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) power devices offer faster switching speeds, lower conduction losses, and higher breakdown voltages compared to silicon-based devices, making them suitable for high-voltage, high-efficiency applications. Regulatory pressures promoting the electrification of transport and clean energy further drive demand for efficient WBG semiconductors.
The RF devices segment is expected to grow at the fastest rate in the coming years, owing to the growing usage in 5G systems and infrastructures, satellite communications, and aerospace systems. GaN RF components excel in power density, efficiency, and frequency response, making them ideal for high-bandwidth, low-latency communication networks. Leading telecom and defense vendors are increasingly using GaN-based RF transistors and amplifiers in base stations, phased-array radars, and space-based platforms, further driving segmental growth.
Why Did the 6-inch Wafers Segment Capture the Largest Share in 2024?
The 6-inch segment dominated the wide band gap semiconductors market in 2024, holding approximately 38% of the market share. This dominance is attributed to mature processing and supply infrastructures, high availability, and suitability for electric vehicles (EVs), industrial applications, and power conversion equipment. Major advanced fabs still utilize 6-inch substrates due to optimized processes. These wafers are primarily used for medium-volume products, where reliability and thermal behavior are critical. OEMs also prefer this wafer size to meet high efficiency and size requirements, further driving segmental growth.
The 8-inch segment is expected to experience the fastest growth in the coming years, driven by the shift of industries toward high-volume production and cost-effectiveness. Foundries and integrated device manufacturers (IDMs) are expanding 8-inch SiC and GaN wafer production to meet the increasing demand from EVs and telecom infrastructure. 8-inch wafers offer a 1.71-2x improvement in usable die per wafer compared to 6-inch, making them suitable for next-generation device requirements.
How Does the Power Electronics Emerge as the Leading Application in the Wide Band Gap Semiconductors Market in 2024?
The power electronics segment held the largest revenue share in the wide band gap semiconductors market in 2024, accounting for 41% of the market. This is due to the widespread use of SiC and GaN in high-efficiency, high-power density applications like industrial motor drives and high-voltage switching systems. The demand for WBG semiconductors is increasing in power electronics systems due to their superior form factors and thermal stability, enabling higher breakdown voltages and lower conduction losses. Furthermore, next-generation WBG semiconductor power modules, designed for industrial converters and solid-state circuit breakers, are driving further growth of this segment.
The EV & charging infrastructure segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR in the upcoming period due to the increasing momentum of mobility electrification and government initiatives to expand charging infrastructure. The adoption of electric vehicles necessitates the use of WBG devices in traction inverters, DC fast chargers, and onboard chargers. (Source: https://www.energy.gov)
In 2024, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced funding for new electrified vehicle infrastructure projects that utilize high-voltage charging systems with SiC and GaN power components. Strong demand for GaN-based DC-DC converters and SiC MOSFETs in fast chargers is driven by the introduction of over 2.3 million public charging points by the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) by December 2024. The market is further fueled by increased production of WBG semiconductors to meet the demands of EV powertrains and high-speed charging technology. (Source: https://theicct.org)
Why Did the Automotive Segment Account for the Highest Share of the Market in 2024?
The automotive segment dominated the wide band gap semiconductors market in 2024, holding a share of about 36%. This is due to the increased adoption of SiC and GaN components in electric vehicles (EVs), hybrid systems, onboard chargers, and traction inverters. Automakers prioritize WBG semiconductors because of their superior efficiency, allowing for greater power output with less energy consumption compared to silicon counterparts. (Source: https://auto.economictimes.indiatimes.com)
In July 2024, Infineon Technologies partnered with Hyundai to supply SiC modules for next-generation EV platforms, with a strategic investment in automotive-quality power semiconductors. Research projects focused on advancements in package reliability and temperature resistance are also accelerating the development of new semiconductor technology for automotive systems. In Q2 2024, Wolfspeed expanded its Mohawk Valley Fab in New York, adding dedicated SiC wafer production capacity for EV traction systems. The versatility of WBG semiconductors in facilitating both 800V powertrains and fast-charging technology further drives market growth in the automotive sector. (Source: https://www.mtl.mit.edu)
The telecommunications segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR in the coming years, owing to the growing 5G infrastructure and data center modernization, as well as increasing power efficiency requirements in network equipment. WBG semiconductor is used in small cell base stations and high-frequency microwave systems for higher switching speed and bandwidth. The TSMC and Samsung Foundry have been ramping their GaN RF production nodes to support the increasing global demand, thus further fuelling the segment. (Source: https://www.wolfspeed.com)
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