The introduction of dc power to industries that traditionally rely on ac power is expected to cause a fundamental shift in how new and existing buildings are designed and operated. It will require manufacturers to design new products, adopt new standards and completely re-design their approach to power delivery systems. It must also be determined where a dc power system will completely replace the existing ac architecture and where the deployment of dc power delivery systems as part of a ac-dc hybrid architecture would be appropriate. Despite the challenges, the addition of dc power delivery systems offers the potential for improvements in energy efficiency, reliability, flexibility, power quality and cost of operation as compared to traditional power systems.
The Darnell Group identified the potential market for dc power solutions in four specific sectors: data centers, commercial/industrial facilities, residential installations and telecom central offices. For each sector an analysis identifying two key market penetration rates of adoption for dc power was used. The first is the “threshold” rate of market penetration required for dc technology to achieve in each sector in order to continue expanding. The second penetration rate is the “saturation” rate, which represents the percentage of the market the technology expects to eventually capture in order to be considered mainstream. Once these market penetration rates are determined, a high level estimate of the dollar market for dc power systems and components for each sector covered will be presented.
This analysis was applied to each of the four areas covered in this report. Each area recorded a distinct threshold and saturation rate based on key market drivers specific to each industry. Two areas of immediate opportunity for the adoption of dc power are projected to be in the data center and commercial/industrial facilities segments. Both of these sectors are projected to reach their adoption stages by 2019. These facilities each have the advantages of strong standards activity, supporting government regulations, and a number of demonstration facilities. In addition, a small but growing number of products have been developed by companies like Delta Electronics, Emerson Network Power, Nextek Power Systems and others.
DC Building Power Market
Published: March 2012
No.OF Pages: 82
Price: Single User License US$ 3200
Various DC Building Power products and technologies are already providing sales opportunities across a range of applications. This comprehensive analysis provides decision makers with an insightful look into the current and future opportunities and threats available in the dc building power supply market. Topics include:
- Emerging Trends and Developments
- Additional Applications and Drivers
- Pending Issues in the Development of DC
- Current Areas of Development
- Key Organizations Involved in Advancing DC Power
- Estimated Market Projections
- Selective Company Profiles
Although the telecom industry maintains a lower threshold penetration rate, due to its size it must reach a higher market saturation rate for adoption. The market drivers for this segment are much different than the other applications mentioned. Telecom central offices are already dc facilities and the technological, regulatory and economic factors needed for them to adopt a higher-voltage dc architecture, in addition to their current 48Vdc configuration, must be more compelling. In light of the eventual adoption of ETSI EN 300-132-3, there are a number of strong arguments for this industry to adopt an architecture combining both low and high voltage dc power, as well as a hybrid dc power architecture, combining 48Vdc for existing telecom equipment and higher-voltage dc for additional datacom equipment.
The residential dc industry is in a much earlier stage of development than the other industries covered in this report. Despite the trend towards zero net energy (ZNE), this sector does not have an established set of standards or any large bodies or organizations actively promoting technology or products. (A ZNE building is defined as one that produces as much energy as it uses in a year.) As a result, both the threshold and saturation rates are quite high. However, there are a number of factors, including the large PV market and several government mandated programs that may provide the industry with a significant push.
A ZNE building could significantly cut dependence on fossil-based energy and supply the required energy through on-site distributed generation, such as solar, wind, fuel cells, or microturbines. A market is already emerging for zero energy buildings today, but it remains a small fraction of the overall building construction industry. However, a number of government initiatives designed to encourage development have been enacted.
In fact, in 2008 the California Public Utilities Commission introduced the state’s Zero Net Energy Action Plan for Buildings. Updated in 2011, the plan calls for all new residential construction in California to be zero net energy or equivalent to zero net energy by 2020. The same applies to commercial developments by 2030. (Equivalency allows the goal to be applicable to all buildings –even those unable to produce all net energy needs on site.) This will require an intense focus on reducing energy consumption through state-of-the-art design and technology, with grid-connected renewable energy to minimize each building’s residual carbon footprint.
