INTRODUCTION
STUDY BACKGROUND
Two and a half years have passed since BCC published its last report on the global market for advanced materials and devices used in renewable-energy systems. Since then, the global market for renewable energy has continued to grow rapidly. BCC therefore considers it important to update the earlier report’s findings and conclusions about the size and structure of this important market.
STUDY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The overall goal of this study is to identify and quantify the market for advanced material and device technologies used in renewable-energy systems. Specific objectives include the following:
- Identifying advanced materials and devices that are used in renewable-energy systems
- Analyzing and predicting trends in the most likely application(s) for each of these materials and devices as the bases for developing baseline estimates of the renewable-energy-related market for advanced materials and devices
- Pinpointing new materials and devices that are likely to be introduced into renewable-energy systems in the next 5 years and their expected market impacts
- Drawing attention to manufacturers of renewable-energy systems and associated advanced materials and devices that are most likely to benefit from the trends identified above.
INTENDED AUDIENCE
This report is a business opportunity report intended especially for developers and vendors of advanced materials and devices that target the renewable-energy systems market. It should also be useful to vendors of renewable-energy systems interested in understanding where the market is headed with respect to advanced enabling technologies.
Other readers who will find the report’s findings and conclusions informative include:
- Investors
- Members of renewable-energy trade, professional, and advocacy organizations
- Officials of government agencies and multinational organizations responsible for optimizing energy consumption and promoting the use of renewable energies.
While the report is oriented to the interests and concerns of a nontechnical audience, it contains a great deal of technical information that should also be of interest to scientists and engineers working in the renewable-energy field.
SCOPE OF REPORT
The report focuses on the global market for advanced materials (e.g., polymers, elastomers, composites, high-temperature alloys, powder metals, thin films, and others) and devices (sensors and controllers, optics, etc.) used in the fabrication of the following types of renewable-energy systems:
- Solar photovoltaic
- Solar thermal
- Mini- and micro-hydro
- Wind
- Geothermal
- Ocean
The report does not cover biofuels or renewable-energy-storage technologies such as batteries and fuel cells in detail because they are covered in other recent BCC studies. The report format includes the following major elements:
- Executive summary
- Definitions
- Overall trends in renewable-energy systems
- Advanced materials and devices with current or potential applications in renewable-energy systems
o Description
o Commercial/developmental status
o Specific renewable-energy applications
o Properties/advantages and disadvantages/competing materials or
devices
o Main suppliers/buyers
- Market size, segmentation and growth trends
o 2008 Sales
o Market Drivers
o Market Projections, 2009-2014
o Number and size of firms
o Company profiles
INFORMATION SOURCES AND METHODOLOGY
The findings and conclusions of this report are based on information gathered from renewable-energy products manufacturers, advanced materials and devices vendors and renewable energy-related organizations. Interview data were combined with information gathered through an extensive review of secondary sources such as trade publications, trade associations, company literature, and online databases to produce the baseline market estimates contained in this report.
The methodologies and assumptions used to develop the market projections in this report are discussed at length in the section on Detailed Market Estimates and Projections. The report carefully documents data sources and assumptions. This way, readers can see how the market estimates were developed and, if they so desire, test the impact on the final numbers of changing assumptions such as price.
ANALYST CREDENTIALS
Andrew McWilliams, the author of this report, is a partner in the Boston-based international technology and marketing consulting firm, 43rd Parallel, LLC. He is the author of numerous other BCC Research business opportunity analyses, including the predecessor to this report, (EGY053A Advanced Materials and Devices for Renewable Energy Systems) and several other reports in the areas of energy and advanced materials including EGY051A Petroleum Fuel Optimization Technologies, EGY055A Building the Global Hydrogen Economy: Technologies and Opportunities, EGY065A Enabling Technologies for the Smart Grid, ENV007A The U.S. Market for Green Building Materials, CHM020C Catalysts for Environmental and Energy Applications, and NAN044A Nanotechnology in Energy Applications.
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DISCLAIMER
The information developed in this report is intended to be as reliable as possible at the time of publication and of a professional nature. This information does not constitute managerial, legal, or accounting advice; nor should it serve as a corporate policy guide, laboratory manual, or an endorsement of any product, as much of the information is speculative in nature. The author assumes no responsibility for any loss or damage that might result from reliance on the reported information or its use.
Report Code: EGY053B, Published: November 2009, Analyst: Andrew McWilliams
