World’s Largest Silicon Carbide Facility, world record in Durham, North Carolina

March 29, 2024

Durham, North Carolina, United States--Wolfspeed, Inc. (NYSE: WOLF), the global leader in silicon carbide technology, currently produces more than 60% of the world’s silicon carbide materials at its Durham, N.C. headquarters, and is engaged in a $6.5 billion capacity expansion effort to dramatically increase production, thus setting the world record for being the World’s Largest Silicon Carbide Facility, according to the WORLD RECORD ACADEMY.

"Located in Chatham County, North Carolina, the JP will produce 200mm silicon carbide wafers, significantly expanding Wolfspeed’s materials capacity, and meet the demand for next generation semiconductors critical to the energy transition and AI," the official Press Release says.

"The JP represents a total investment of $5 billion, complemented by public and private support, to help accelerate the transition from silicon to silicon carbide and ramp up supply of this material recently deemed as critical to the energy transition by the U.S. Department of Energy. By the end of 2024, phase one of construction is expected to be completed on the 445-acre site.

"Wolfspeed currently produces more than 60% of the world’s silicon carbide materials at its Durham, N.C. headquarters, and is engaged in a $6.5 billion capacity expansion effort to dramatically increase production."

"We’re leading the transformation from silicon to silicon carbide (SiC) as we shape the future of semiconductor markets: the transition to electric vehicles, the evolution of renewable energy and energy storage, and the advancement of industrial applications," the official website says.

"After more than 35 years of forging new technology adoption and transformation, our Wolfspeed® power semiconductors are leading the industry through unrivaled expertise and capacity. What’s next? We believe anything is possible through hard work, collaboration and a passion for innovation.

"Wolfspeed’s founders were the first to successfully commercialize silicon carbide, and for more than 35 years have focused on designing and supplying the industry’s highest-performing silicon carbide materials and devices for high-power applications.'

"Wolfspeed is the world’s leading innovator and manufacturer of wide bandgap semiconductors, which have been proven to be superior to incumbent technologies in conserving, converting and utilizing energy," the Research Triangle Park says.

"Our power devices provide increased efficiency, higher switching frequency and reduced system size and weight in a variety of applications in the communications, industrial, energy and transportation markets.

"Wolfspeed RF Products use GaN on silicon carbide. GaN-on-SiC provides inherent advantages that significantly benefit Wolfspeed customers – including higher efficiency, wider bandwidth, higher power and smaller size. We serve customers in multiple markets including military and aerospace, communications and industrial applications."

"Wolfspeed, Inc. is an American developer and manufacturer of wide-bandgap semiconductors, focused on silicon carbide and gallium nitride materials and devices for power and radio frequency applications such as transportation, power supplies, power inverters, and wireless systems. The company was formerly named Cree, Inc

"The company was founded in July 1987 in Durham, North Carolina. Five of the six founders – Neal Hunter, Thomas Coleman, John Edmond, Eric Hunter, John Palmour, and Calvin Carter – are graduates of North Carolina State University.

"In February 2023 it announced it would build its first European factory in Germany. It is supposed to be on the site of a former coal plant in Ensdorf, Saarland with ZF Friedrichshafen as a coinvestor and susidized by the EU as an important project of common European interest (IPCEI) for Microelectronics and Communication Technologies." (Wikipedia)

"Semiconductor manufacturer Wolfspeed is investing big in North Carolina with two chip-making technology projects worth more than $5 billion, including a new manufacturing plant and a partnership with North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University to develop an on-campus research and development facility," the Engineering-News Record says.

"The company on March 28 announced its link with the university to apply for CHIPS and Science Act funding to build the research facility at the school's Durham campus. That follows its plan announced last September to build a $5-billion materials plant on a 445-acre site in Chatham County that it says would create at least 1,800 jobs.

"The new manufacturing facility will supply 200 mm silicon carbide wafers to Wolfspeed’s Mohawk Valley Fab, which opened last year in New York as the world’s first 200 mm silicon carbide fabrication facility. Phase one of construction is anticipated to be completed in 2024 and will be combined with the company’s current materials expansion at its Durham headquarters. Wolfspeed expects to increase material production more than 10 times."