| The power electronics market is booming at all | | | | strongest CAGR between 2010 and 2015: 11.1%. |
| voltage ranges! | | | | Indeed, we expect plenty of work to be realized |
| More importantly, power devices for application | | | | for HDVC transportation, and ABB to provide an |
| markets >1.7kV like wind power converters, | | | | important contribution to HVDC light architecture |
| electricity transportation and distribution | | | | by making IGBTs. |
| (T&D), rail traction and ship & vessel | | | | Wind turbine converters have not suffered so |
| propulsion correspond to high added-value | | | | much from the 2009 crisis, and their growth is |
| businesses. | | | | expected to be the second strongest, with 2010 |
| It is sure that their total 2010 expected market | | | | – 2015 CAGR of more than 9%. |
| size of $405 million (including power devices and | | | | Finally, ship and vessel markets have been |
| power modules) is small compared to lower | | | | impacted unevenly in 2009. Military vessels have |
| voltage markets, but they remain very dynamic | | | | kept on growing – relatively to the long time |
| and offer the potential of high margins. | | | | period of ship manufacturing – whereas |
| These market developments are primarily driven | | | | passenger yachts acquired for private use have |
| by energy saving considerations and green | | | | drastically decreased. As a consequence, we |
| technology developments. They are actively | | | | estimate the global IGBT module market for ships |
| supported – e.g. electricity T&D – by | | | | and vessels to resume in 2013 and reach $26 |
| several governments and leading companies are | | | | million by 2015. |
| working to improve their technology. | | | | Report Highlights |
| As such, IGBTs, thyristors (GTOs and IGCTs) | | | | Power electronics represent a daily challenge in |
| and diodes will get access to more and more | | | | several systems today (photovoltaic inverters, |
| technological improvements like transition to 8'' | | | | hybrid electric and electric vehicles, cameras, |
| wafer platforms and use of silicon carbide (SiC) | | | | white goods,…) from a market point of view, |
| materials among others. | | | | but also from a technology development aspect. |
| However, the long time period of order contracts, | | | | Plenty of companies are pushing R&D efforts |
| the low volume production they imply and the | | | | hard in order to provide the most cost-effective, |
| issues to increase voltage to use SiC-based | | | | efficient and reliable materials, devices and |
| components induce quite light competition | | | | systems. And some more "hidden" applications, |
| between the well-established players of those | | | | like the over-1.7kV segment described in this |
| markets. | | | | report benefit from those efforts. |
| Market metrics | | | | The 4 following segments have been investigated |
| Total market for high power devices and modules | | | | in this report: |
| (including IGBTs, thyristors and diodes) was $390 | | | | - Wind turbine converters, |
| million in 2009 and is expected to ramp up to | | | | - Electricity T&D, |
| more than $570 million by 2015. | | | | - Rail traction, |
| Rail traction will contribute more than 65% of this | | | | - Ships and vessels. |
| value because of the high level of production it | | | | Due to diversified utilization, low interest in pushing |
| represents and the number of inverter units per | | | | marketing efforts and flatness of market |
| locomotive. | | | | revenue evolution, we have not described |
| Electricity T&D will benefit from the | | | | industrial motor drive and UPS markets. |