How Power Semiconductor Shortages Are Forcing OEMs to Buy and Store Early
The global demand for power semiconductors is surging, driven by the rapid growth of electric vehicles, 
renewable energy systems, and advanced industrial automation. Silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) devices—essential for high-voltage, high-efficiency applications—are at the center of this demand. Yet production capacity has not kept pace, leaving OEMs with a difficult choice: risk shortages or secure supply years in advance.
Increasingly, manufacturers are choosing the latter, purchasing critical power devices early and investing in long-term storage strategies to protect against disruption.
Why Power Semiconductors Are in Short Supply
The transition to electrification is creating demand spikes across multiple sectors:
Electric Vehicles (EVs): Automakers are designing SiC MOSFETs into traction inverters, onboard chargers, and fast-charging infrastructure.
Renewables: GaN and SiC devices are enabling more efficient solar inverters and wind power systems.
Industrial & Aerospace: Power-hungry applications require smaller, lighter, and more efficient semiconductor solutions.
Foundries and IDMs are expanding capacity, but building out new fabs takes years. In the meantime, supply remains tight, lead times are long, and allocation often favors the largest buyers.
The Rise of Early Lifecycle Buys
To secure availability, OEMs are moving away from just-in-time models and committing to lifecycle purchases much earlier in the design process. These buys can cover several years of anticipated demand, locking in supply before capacity is absorbed by larger contracts.
However, purchasing ahead introduces its own risks. Without the proper storage infrastructure, sensitive power devices can degrade over time, especially those with strict moisture sensitivity or electrostatic discharge requirements.
Why Storage Strategy Matters
Buying early only works if the components remain in specification throughout their shelf life. That means OEMs must pair procurement with storage environments purpose-built for sensitive semiconductors. Effective long-term storage requires:
Climate-controlled vaults to regulate temperature and humidity
Moisture sensitivity (MSL) compliance with activated desiccant dry cabinets
ESD protection to prevent latent device failures
Serialized tracking to ensure full traceability and chain-of-custody documentation
ISO and AS-certified handling to meet audit and compliance requirements
This approach transforms early buying from a gamble into a strategic safeguard.
A Shift from Reactive to Proactive
The shortages of the past few years have taught manufacturers that reactive buying—scrambling to source parts when allocation runs dry—leads to inflated costs and production delays. By contrast, proactively securing and storing critical semiconductors allows OEMs to protect production schedules, avoid costly redesigns, and meet customer commitments with confidence.
As demand for SiC and GaN power semiconductors accelerates, OEMs can no longer rely on market timing alone. Early lifecycle buys, supported by secure long-term storage, are emerging as the only reliable way to navigate constrained supply. In a high-voltage future, the companies that prepare today will be the ones shipping tomorrow.