The European direct current power market is expected to reach $40.1 million by 2025 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 31.2% over the forecast period 2017-2025, driven by the increasing integration of solar photovoltaic system (PV) and energy storage in residential and commercial buildings, according to Frost & Sullivan, a business consulting and research firm.
Despite combined savings opportunities from direct current (DC)-powered LED lighting and energy efficiency regulations and targets, the market is challenged by strong barriers such as existing AC infrastructures and lack of DC-ready end-user products.
“The United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, France, Switzerland, Netherlands, and Nordic countries will witness faster growth than other countries due to energy efficiency renovations and successful pilot project implementations,” said Anirudh Bhaskaran, Energy & Environment Industry Analyst at Frost & Sullivan. “Office, retail, and industrial warehouses will be immediate targets with LED lighting serving as the gateway for participants to enter the DC power distribution market.”
The analysis provides an assessment of disruptive trends and technologies, drivers and restraints, market share, and competitive analysis of significant players such as Siemens, Schneider Electric, ABB, Bosch, and Legrand. Revenue forecast by country and end-user vertical are also provided.
According to research from Frost & Sullivan, strategic imperatives for success and growth include:
- DC-powered LED lighting and USB-C complied electronic products are critical for successful implementation of DC power distribution in homes and commercial buildings;
- Distributed energy sources and LED lighting are key growth opportunities for participants to create additional revenue in this highly emerging market;
- Using LED lighting as a test bed for implementing DC power distribution in buildings due to its scalability and economic feasibility;
- Focusing on buildings installed with solar PV and battery energy storage to convert full AC into hybrid AC-DC infrastructures;
- Partnerships between end-use product manufacturers and DC infrastructure suppliers for the adoption of DC power distribution; and
- Collaboration between governments, industry associations, and manufacturers to promote and accelerate DC power distribution in buildings.
“Currently, generation, transmission, and distribution systems associated with the grid are built around AC technology. Therefore, implementation of the DC infrastructure will pose a huge challenge for governments, utilities, and manufacturers,” observed Bhaskaran. “To overcome this hurdle, stakeholders will need to come together to frame a pathway for the adoption of DC products and demonstration of benefits of DC power in commercial buildings.”
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