News: Suppliers
15 December 2022
Wolfspeed extends silicon carbide wafer supply agreement with power device maker
Wolfspeed Inc of Durham, NC, USA has expanded an existing multi-year, long-term silicon carbide wafer supply agreement, now worth about $225m, with what it describe as a leading power device company. The expanded agreement calls for Wolfspeed to supply 150mm silicon carbide bare and epitaxial wafers.
“This agreement further strengthens our long-time cooperation with a best-in-class power semiconductor manufacturer,” says Dr Cengiz Balkas, senior VP & general manager of Materials for Wolfspeed. “This well-established partnership, paired with our most recent announcement of a multi-billion-dollar materials expansion in North Carolina, is a huge step forward in our mission of transitioning the industry from silicon to silicon carbide.”
The expansion of Wolfspeed silicon carbide materials footprint (announced in early September) will improve the firm’s ability to supply wafers to existing and potential customers – a critical part of the larger wide-bandgap semiconductor supply chain.
The adoption of SiC-based power solutions is rapidly growing across multiple markets, including industrial and automotive. Silicon carbide solutions enable smaller, lighter and more cost-effective designs, converting energy more efficiently to unlock new clean energy applications. To better support these growing markets, device makers are interested in securing access to high-quality silicon carbide substrates to support their customers, says Wolfspeed.
The supply agreement enables silicon carbide applications in broad markets such as renewable energy and storage, electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, industrial power supplies, traction and variable speed drives.
Wolfspeed to build largest SiC materials plant in Chatham County, North Carolina
