words Al Woods
Experts forecast that by 2027, the global power electronics market wil reach $46.81 billion, which is not surprising considering the technology’s application range. Transforming power from one state to another and regulating the efficiency of this process are required in such areas as automotive and transportation, consumer electronics, renewable energy, industrial sector, etc.
With power consumption being one of the most challenging issues of the modern world, the industry is constantly changing. In this article, we are going to take a look at 5 power electronics trends experts expect to see in 2022.
Trend #1: GaN Chargers
Today, it’s clear that silicon as the heart of electronic chips can no longer support the further development of electronics. Along with other materials that could potentially replace silicon, GaN (gallium nitride)is becoming a more efficient alternative. Particularly, GaN power transistors have the potential to solve critical challenges in power electronics, especially in the consumer and automotive segments.
For example, compared to traditional chargers, GaN models can charge devices faster and lose up to 50% less energy in the process. GaN chargers are smaller and can be used to charge multiple devices simultaneously. In 2022, we expect to see more such chargers on the market as their price will go down. Also, more companies dealing with power electronics design will use GaN power transistors.
Trend #2: GaN Power Supplies in Data Centers
The combustive development of IoT and machine learning technologies has resulted in an explosive growth of data centers that consume energy in huge quantities. Consequently, data center operators are looking for more efficient solutions, and GaN power supplies can become one.
Smaller and more efficient GaN power supplies will let data centers increase their server density by up to 56% and decrease the centers’ capital expenditures at the same time. Additionally, GaN-based solutions will reduce their CO2 emissions.
Trend #3: Electric Vehicles
For electric vehicles, power storage and consumption have been the most challenging issue since this technology emerged. These two factors define how far you can drive and how often you need to charge the vehicle, so it’s no wonder that EV manufacturers seek better alternatives to traditional silicon-based power electronics.
GaN batteries have more capacity and feature smaller sizes, which makes them perfect for electric vehicles. Therefore, EV manufacturers will have no choice but to implement this technology in 2022.
Trend #4: Sustainability
According to Independent Statistics & Analysis, the total US power consumption resulted in 0.85 pounds of CO2 emissions per kWh in 2020. With electricity and heat being the primary sources of greenhouse gas emissions, it’s crucial to reduce power consumption by making it more efficient, and GaN solutions can help with that. Moreover, energy storage systems that use GaN transistors lose 4 times less power, which makes them essential for residential and commercial renewable energy storage systems.
Trend #5: Supply Shortage
With the demand for electronics skyrocketing in the past few years, all related industries have been feeling the supply shortage. However, in 2022, we may see the supply finally catching up with the demand.
Energy is a crucial component of the modern economy influencing every aspect of our lives. New technologies such as GaN semiconductors will gradually change not only the technology but also the economic landscape.
