ASML unveils EUV breakthrough targeting 50% more chips by 2030
What's the deal? ASML has unveiled a breakthrough in its extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light source that could enable chipmakers to produce up to 50% more chips by 2030.
The Dutch company said it has increased the power of its EUV source to 1,000 watts, up from 600 watts today. The boost allows machines to process as many as 330 wafers per hour by the end of the decade, compared with about 220 now.
ASML is the world’s only supplier of commercial EUV lithography systems, which are essential for producing advanced chips used by companies such as TSMC and Intel. Greater light power reduces exposure time on each wafer, lowering the cost per chip.
Why now? The announcement comes as the US and China push to develop alternatives to ASML’s technology amid export controls that restrict EUV shipments to China.
At least two US startups, Substrate and xLight, have raised hundreds of millions of dollars to build rival systems, with xLight receiving support from President Donald TrumpDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →’s administration.
By increasing output and cutting costs, ASML aims to extend its lead before competitors can close the gap.
The technical advance centres on firing about 100,000 molten tin droplets per second and shaping them into plasma using two laser bursts instead of one. The plasma emits EUV light at a 13.5nm wavelength, which is then directed through precision optics to print chip patterns.
What could go wrong? The technology is among the most complex in manufacturing. Scaling to sustained 1,000-watt output under customer conditions may prove difficult.
Geopolitical pressure remains high. Export controls could tighten further, limiting sales to key markets and encouraging domestic alternatives in China and the US.
Rivals backed by significant funding may narrow the gap over time.
The signal: The advance highlights how incremental engineering gains can reshape semiconductor economics. A jump from 220 to 330 wafers per hour translates into meaningful cost savings at scale.
It also underscores ASML’s strategic importance. As the sole EUV supplier, it sits at the centre of global chip supply chains and geopolitical tension.
For investors, the message is clear: performance improvements in critical tools — not just chip design — will define the next phase of semiconductor growth.
Sources:
Reuters
WCCF Tech
Intellectia.ai
J.V.
