Renesas Re-opens Kofu Power Fab

Renesas Electronics has recently announced the official re-opening of its Kofu Factory located in Kai City, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. The factory has undergone a significant transformation to operate as a 300mm facility, marking a new chapter in Renesas' production capabilities.

The primary objective of the 300mm Kofu fab is to enhance Renesas' production capacity for Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors (IGBTs) and other semiconductor products by the year 2025. This expansion is crucial in meeting the escalating demand for power semiconductors, particularly driven by the rapid growth of electric vehicles (EVs) in the global market.

Previously, the Kofu Factory housed 150mm and 200mm wafer fabrication lines under Renesas Semiconductor Manufacturing, a subsidiary of Renesas. However, operations at the factory were halted in October 2014. The decision to revive the facility was made by Renesas in May 2022, with a substantial investment of Y90 billion ($600 million) allocated for the year.

Expressing his satisfaction with the progress, Hidetoshi Shibata, President and CEO of Renesas, stated, "We are delighted to witness the remarkable transformation of the Kofu Factory. Transitioning into a dedicated 300mm wafer fab for power semiconductors after a decade signifies a significant milestone for us." Shibata also extended his gratitude to various stakeholders, including local governments, construction firms, and partner companies.

The clean room at the Kofu Factory spans an impressive 18,000 square meters, providing a state-of-the-art environment for semiconductor production. Renesas anticipates that the power semiconductors manufactured at this facility will play a crucial role in optimizing electricity usage, a critical factor as the demand for EVs and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies continues to rise.