NVIDIA의 800V DC 아키텍처: 질화갈륨(GaN)의 '테슬라 순간'이 될 것인가? 正文： NVIDIA's recent announcement of an 800-volt direct current (DC) power architecture is poised to significantly accelerate the growth of the power semiconductor market. Industry focus is particularly zeroing in on the potential massive uptake of Gallium Nitride (GaN) power semiconductors. Analysts are already drawing parallels, suggesting that NVIDIA's strategic move could be the 'Tesla moment' for GaN, akin to how Tesla's adoption catalyzed the Silicon Carbide (SiC) market.
This architecture is designed for next-generation Artificial Intelligence (AI) data centers, which require increasingly higher efficiency and power density to manage the immense energy demands of advanced compute workloads. By moving to an 800-volt DC system, power loss is minimized compared to traditional lower voltage or alternating current (AC) systems. GaN, a wide-bandgap semiconductor material, is ideally suited for this high-frequency, high-efficiency environment. It offers superior switching performance and lower energy losses than conventional silicon-based devices, making it perfect for the demanding requirements of AI server power supplies.
According to the French market research firm Yole Group, the GaN power device market is projected to grow substantially, reaching approximately three billion US dollars by 2030, exhibiting a robust Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 42 percent from 2024. Within this growth, the telecommunications and infrastructure sector is expected to see an even sharper surge, with an anticipated CAGR of 53 percent over the same period. The adoption of GaN devices within NVIDIA’s new architecture is cited as a critical factor underpinning this rapid market expansion.
Historically, SiC found its killer application in electric vehicles (EVs), with Tesla's early and large-scale adoption setting the industry standard and driving down costs. Now, the AI data center is emerging as the 'killer app' for GaN. The sheer scale and energy requirements of NVIDIA's AI infrastructure, involving thousands of high-power Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) and a sophisticated power delivery network, could establish the necessary volume and standardization to push GaN into the mainstream. This development is expected to spur innovation in GaN fabrication, lower manufacturing costs, and ultimately broaden its application across consumer electronics, renewable energy, and industrial power systems. The move signals a major shift in how high-performance computing manages its energy footprint.
