LONDON — The worldwide market for power discretes and modules was worth $13.9 billion in 2008 having grown by just 0.7 percent from 2007 due to a dismal fourth quarter, according to market trackers at IMS Research (Wellingborough, England.).

Infineon Technologies remained the largest supplier for the sixth year running, said the researchers, and managed to increase its share to 10.2 percent.

The other top market players in 2008 were, in second slot, Vishay, with a 6.8 percent share, followed by STMicroelectronics (6.6 percent) ; Fairchild: (6.5 percent); Mitsubishi (including Powerex) at 6.4 percent; and the 'others' category representing 63.5 percent, indicating the fragmented nature of the sector.

IMS projects the overall market will fall by 22 percent this year, with power discretes seeing the worst decline, and revenues falling by over $2.5 billion. Half of the decline is expected to be from power MOSFETs and protected MOSFETs.

Like most others, this market experienced a terrible Q1 and Q2, however, a steady pickup is predicted for suppliers in Q3, said IMS.

Market Analyst, Josh Flood commented: "Revenues from power semiconductors are predicted to fall significantly in 2009. However, compared to projections for the overall semiconductor market, the picture is less gloomy. The power semiconductor market is forecast to make a steady recovery in the second half of 2009, and several suppliers have revised their projection for the second half of the year."

The market trackers anticipate healthy growth for the power semiconductor market in 2010, with growth of around 7 percent, because, according to IMS, many of the larger western economies are now beginning to stabilize from the economic downturn.

For the renewable energy sector, IMS anticipates a five-year CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 18.2 percent with wind power and solar power installations being the main drivers.

Infineon said it continues to lead in the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East, Africa) and the Americas, capturing 22.8 percent and 11.2 percent share, respectively, in these regions.

Recently, Infineon announced co-operations with Robert Bosch GmbH for power semiconductors and Korean-headquartered LS Industrial Systems Co., Ltd. for its CIPOS modules.

The cooperation with Bosch aims to improve energy efficiency of power electronic systems in, but not limited to, electric vehicles, while the cooperation with LS Industrial Systems relates to white goods in the promising markets for "green" household appliances manufactured in Asia.