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IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor) is a composite fully-controlled, voltage-driven power semiconductor device composed of a BJT (bipolar junction transistor) and a MOS (insulated-gate field-effect transistor). It combines the high input impedance of a MOSFET with the low on-state voltage drop of a GTR. A GTR has a low saturation voltage and high current density but requires a large drive current; a MOSFET requires very little drive power and switches fast but has a high on-state voltage drop and low current density. The IGBT combines the advantages of both: low drive power and low saturation voltage. It is ideally suited to converter systems with DC voltages of 600 V and above, such as AC motors, inverters, switching power supplies, lighting circuits, and traction drives.
An IGBT module is a modular semiconductor product in which IGBT chips (insulated gate bipolar transistor chips) and FWD chips (freewheeling diode chips) are packaged together with a specific circuit bridge configuration. The packaged IGBT module is used directly in equipment such as inverters and UPS uninterruptible power supplies.
IGBT modules offer energy savings, easy installation and maintenance, and stable heat dissipation. Most products currently sold on the market are such modular products, and "IGBT" generally refers to IGBT modules. As energy conservation and environmental protection gain momentum, these products will become increasingly common in the market.
IGBTs are the core devices for energy conversion and transmission, commonly known as the "CPU" of power electronic devices. As a national strategic emerging industry, they are widely used in rail transit, smart grids, aerospace, electric vehicles, new energy equipment, and other fields.
Main application areas of IGBTs
As the mainstream device among new power semiconductor devices, IGBTs are already widely used in traditional industries such as industrial, 4C (communication, computer, consumer electronics, automotive electronics), aerospace, and national defense, as well as in strategic emerging industries such as rail transit, new energy, smart grids, and new energy vehicles.
1. New energy vehicles
IGBT modules play a vital role in electric vehicles and are core technical components of equipment such as electric vehicles and charging piles. IGBT modules account for nearly 10% of the cost of an electric vehicle and about 20% of the cost of a charging pile. In electric vehicles, IGBTs are mainly used in the following areas:
Electric drive control systems: high-power DC/AC inversion to drive the vehicle motor.
On-board air conditioning control systems: low-power DC/AC inversion, using IGBTs and FRDs with lower current ratings.
Charging piles: IGBT modules serve as switching elements in smart charging piles.
2. Smart grids
IGBTs are widely used in the generation, transmission, transformation, and consumption segments of smart grids:
Generation: rectifiers and inverters in wind power and photovoltaic power generation require IGBT modules.
Transmission: FACTS flexible transmission technology in ultra-high-voltage DC transmission requires large quantities of power devices such as IGBTs.
Transformation: IGBTs are key devices in power electronic transformers (PETs).
Consumption: household white goods, microwave ovens, LED lighting drivers, and others all generate substantial demand for IGBTs.
3. Rail transit
IGBT devices have become the mainstream power electronic devices in traction converters and various auxiliary converters of rail transit vehicles. AC drive technology is one of the core technologies of modern rail transit; in AC drive systems, the traction converter is a key component, and the IGBT is one of the most critical devices in the traction converter.
Overseas giants dominate the market, leaving ample room for Chinese companies to catch up
Infineon leads the IGBT market across the board, while in 2020 StarPower entered the top six of the IGBT module market. According to Omdia data, the top three companies in both the IGBT discrete device market and the IGBT module market in 2020 were Infineon, Fuji Electric, and Mitsubishi. Infineon leads the IGBT market across the board, with shares of 29.3% in IGBT discrete devices and 36.5% in IGBT modules.
In the IGBT discrete device market, Chinese company Silan entered the global top ten with a 2.6% share in 2020; in the IGBT module market, StarPower ranked sixth globally in 2020 with a 3.3% share. CRRC Times Electric Semiconductor and BYD Semiconductor have made very good actual market progress; specific figures are yet to be announced.
China's new energy vehicle IGBT market is expected to reach RMB 38.5 billion in 2025, with a CAGR of 33.8% from 2019 to 2025. According to forecasts by the International Council on Clean Transportation, the average cost of new energy vehicles will remain between USD 13,800 and 17,600 in 2025 (average USD 16,150) and between USD 12,100 and 16,500 in 2030 (average USD 14,300). Assuming IGBT modules account for about 4% of vehicle cost, China's new energy vehicle IGBT market may reach RMB 38.5 billion in 2025, with a CAGR of 33.8% from 2019 to 2025. In 2030, China's new energy vehicle IGBT market may reach RMB 57.5 billion, with a CAGR of 21.6% from 2019 to 2030.
