Reportlinker Adds Energy Harvesting & Micro Batteries: Market Forces and Demand Characteristics, Third Edition

NEW YORK, Nov. 20 /PRNewswire/ --

Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue.

Energy Harvesting & Micro Batteries: Market Forces and Demand Characteristics, Third Edition

http://www.reportlinker.com/p0164995/Energy-Harvesting--Micro-Batteries-Market-Forces-and-Demand-Characteristics-Third-Edition.html#utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=prnewswire

Energy harvesting has been "emerging" for several years, but the technology is now poised to break out commercially, driven by developments in areas that are, themselves, emerging applications. The market got its initial acceptance in wireless building automation and control, with deployments in Europe. These opportunities spread to North America, where home automation and control technologies were added to the mix. Wireless sensor mesh networks provided challenges that energy harvesting could meet, particularly where battery use was limited or problematic. Energy efficiency, the Smart Grid, radio frequency ID, and thin-film batteries all helped to advance energy harvesting solutions.

The question now is whether energy harvesting will remain a niche application or enable emerging applications such as wireless medical devices, environmental monitoring, and tire pressure sensing. Demand can be measured by the kind and amount of products that are introduced for emerging applications. This was true for digital power management and control, which started with IC makers and moved into ac-dc and dc-dc converters. Pricing is always a critical crossover point, as well. Digital pricing had to reach parity with analog pricing.

The author has been following the energy harvesting market for more years than other analyst firms. In 2005, we recognized the potential of this technology to both capitalize on, and transform, the small but growing wireless sensor market. After working with a number of North American and European companies, this current report is the third edition of our Energy Harvesting report series. Darnell also identified key industry issues and players, and brought them together with the international nanoPower Forum (nPF). Now heading into its fourth year, nPF will be held in May, 2010. This experience provides unique and useful insight into a market that is ready to break out of its emerging status.

Evidence exists that the "crossover" from the "Introduction" phase to the "Growth" phase will take place in the 2009/10 timeframe. This is based on product introductions from EnOcean that started in 2002. By 2005, the second generation of products was introduced and other companies were offering new products, as well. In 2006, Electronica featured many European companies that had first generation products, while EnOcean was already on the second generation. In November, 2009, the EnOcean Alliance publicized their energy harvesting standard, which presently contains 50 equipment profiles supporting the development of a variety of solutions for building automation. The size of the installations is increasing, and third-generation products have appeared in 2009.

As noted above, the appearance of third-generation products often signals the crossover into the Growth phase. Based on the timeline and company activity of the EnOcean Alliance members, energy harvesting is poised for commercial adoption, with market share increasing. The time it will spend in the Growth phase is hard to predict at this point, but this phase is marked by rapid acceleration in sales and significant gains in market share, overall. It will present a good opportunity for makers of energy harvesting solutions.

Darnell has identified the following drivers for ultra-low-power:

• Bi-directionality, including data rates and range.
• Network security, primarily data integrity.
• Real time monitoring.
• Environmental regulations.
• Remote communication with "host" system.
• Proliferation of sensor mesh networks.

The global economic crisis has affected sales of wireless sensor devices, but companies are still seeing opportunities during the downturn. Companies like Cypress Semiconductor, austriamicrosystems and Future Electronics were interviewed on this subject, and the general consensus was that the trend toward "more intelligent machines" would continue, with more - not less - sensing functionality built into devices. For example, the number of cars being sold might decline, but the number of sensors inside each car is rising.

Some sectors are being affected more than others, according to these companies, particularly with the decline in new housing starts and other commercial construction. In a downturn, companies focus on efficiency and cost saving. Where they are able to do so, they will invest in systems that lead to more automation and greater efficiency, which in turn will lead to continued growth in the sensor market. Motion control, automotive and security systems were cited, in particular.

A 2009 ON World survey of 76 facility managers and IT directors found that 21% are currently using wireless sensors, and 32% are planning to implement wireless sensor network (WSN) solutions within the next two years. WSN markets currently gaining traction include hospitality, healthcare, data centers, lighting control, energy management systems, and "large open spaces" in manufacturing, warehousing and parking garages. The labor costs and set-up problems associated with wiring and changing batteries give WSNs powered by energy harvesting a distinct advantage.

Energy harvesting is being deployed, particularly in building automation sensor applications. Overall, however, it is still in the development stages. Industry players indicate multiple energy harvesting technologies will most likely be required, since each technology has its own set of advantages and trade-offs, depending on the application. Energy storage appropriate to energy harvesting is also critical, and such solutions - like thin-film batteries and supercapacitors - are now being introduced. As a result, wide-scale adoption is likely to require partnerships that include sensor manufacturers, ultra-low-power electronics manufacturers and energy harvesting makers.

Power requirements of some portable devices can "overlap" with energy harvesting solutions, creating incremental markets. For example, a two-way Bluetooth earpiece device requires too much power for energy harvesting in active mode. In sleep mode, however, the power requirements are low enough that energy harvesting could be used. Determining the "load profile" of the device is critical to these overlapping applications. Data rates and range are important, and they have already determined the early adopters of energy harvesting technology. Future adoption is expected in areas such as medical applications.

New energy harvesting "subsystems," such as Infinite Power Solutions' INFINERGY(TM) system, is a solid-state design that will simplify integration. Batteries were the weak spot in wireless sensor applications, and - until thin-film batteries - their packaging was antithetical to longevity. But thin-film batteries are small and can now be integrated into the wireless sensor system - and theoretically last the life of the system. This also provides customers with energy storage choices: traditional batteries; supercapacitors; or thin-film battery energy harvesting.

Just as wireless sensor networks have created opportunities for energy harvesting and thin-film battery technologies, the latter are driving demand for innovative materials and packaging. In order to allow large-scale manufacturing and market penetration, low-cost yet high-value solutions are needed, such as increased integration. Such solutions simplify design and are expected to lead to economies of scale and reduced costs, which are critical to the adoption of any new, emerging technology. Companies are addressing this need, sometimes directly; but oftentimes the developments come from related fields that could find application in ultra-low-power wireless applications.

Energy harvesting devices are still currently priced according to the perceived benefit of not having to change or rely on batteries. Therefore, energy harvesting devices inevitably cost more than batteries at a time in their development where demand and, in some cases technology, are insufficiently developed to drive mass production. Still, what will ultimately drive the sales of energy harvesting devices is the cost of copper versus silicon. Copper wiring is expensive. Silicon is cheap, and wireless technologies invariably rely on silicon, not copper. "Cutting the cord" is not just a matter of convenience; it is a less costly solution.

Energy harvesting is still on the cusp of its crossover from Introduction to Growth. This transition will provide companies with significant sales and "branding" opportunities.

Topics covered include:

• Commercialization Status
• Application Trends
• Power Levels
• Energy Storage Trends
• Energy Harvesting Technologies
• Packaging and Materials
• Value Proposition and Cost Analysis
• Standards Update
• nanoPower Forum: A Review of Key Developments

Energy harvesting has been "emerging" for several years, but the technology is now poised to break out commercially, driven by developments in areas that are, themselves, emerging applications. The market got its initial acceptance in wireless building automation and control, with deployments in Europe. These opportunities spread to North America, where home automation and control technologies were added to the mix. Wireless sensor mesh networks provided challenges that energy harvesting could meet, particularly where battery use was limited or problematic. Energy efficiency, the Smart Grid, radio frequency ID, and thin-film batteries all helped to advance energy harvesting solutions.

Darnell has identified the following drivers for ultra-low-power:

• Bi-directionality, including data rates and range.
• Network security, primarily data integrity.
• Real time monitoring.
• Environmental regulations.
• Remote communication with "host" system.
• Proliferation of sensor mesh networks.

Evidence exists that the "crossover" from the "Introduction" phase to the "Growth" phase will take place in the 2009/10 timeframe. The appearance of third-generation products often signals the crossover into the Growth phase. Based on the timeline and company activity of EnOcean Alliance members and over 200 other organizations and companies, energy harvesting is poised for commercial adoption, with market share increasing. The time it will spend in the Growth phase is hard to predict at this point, but this phase is marked by rapid acceleration in sales and significant gains in market share, overall. It will present a good opportunity for makers of energy harvesting solutions.

Table of Contents

Introduction 4

Commercialization Status 7

Application Trends 9

Home Automation 9

Building Automation 12

Industrial Process 14

Environmental Monitoring 17

Automated Meter Reading 19

Medical 22

Military/Aerospace and Related 24

Automotive 27

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) 29

Other Trends 31

Power Levels 32

Energy Storage Trends 37

Thin-film Batteries 39

Primary Batteries 40

Rechargeable Batteries 41

Supercapacitors/Ultracapacitors 41

Energy Storage Comparison 43

Self-Discharge 46

Energy Harvesting Technologies 47

Photovoltaic 49

Thermoelectric 49

Mechanical Vibration 50

Radio Frequency 52

Other Trends 53

Packaging and Materials 54

Value Proposition & Cost Analysis 57

Standards Update 61

Appendix A - nanoPower Forum Shows Road to Commercialization: A Review of Key Developments 65

Appendix B - EnOcean Alliance Members and Representative Installations 69

List of Tables

Table 1 - Selected Applications and Power Requirements 33

Table 2 - Energy Harvesting Functions and Power Levels 33

Table 3 - Energy Harvesting Technologies and Power Levels 35

Table 4 - Energy Storage Devices, Self-Discharge Rates 46

Table 5 - Selected Power Sources and Applications 48

Table 6 - Energy Harvesting Systems, Power and Cost 59

Table 7 - Energy Harvesting Installation Cost Savings 60

Table 8 - Inventory Management Cost Options, Wired vs Wireless Automation Investment 60

List of Figures

Figure 1 - Product Life Cycle Curve for Energy Harvesting Technologies 8

Figure 2 - Nokia Home Control Center Device 11

Figure 3 - Piezoelectric Power Generating Floors 14

Figure 4 - Fisher® Wireless Position Monitors 16

Figure 5 - Voltree Sensor Node 18

Figure 6 - SecureMesh(TM) Powerline Repeater 22

Figure 7 - Body Area Networks, Data Rate vs Power Levels 24

Figure 8 - Bell M412 Test Flight 26

Figure 9 - Pico Cube Architecture 28

Figure 10 - Power Consumption and Data Rates 34

Figure 11 - Portable versus Energy Harvesting 36

Figure 12 - Thin-film Lithium Battery for Implantable Medical Device 39

Figure 13 - Freescale "Hive Node" 43

Figure 14 - Energy Storage Devices, Cycle Life 44

Figure 15 - Energy Storage Devices, Specific Energy Density (Wh/kg) 44

Figure 16 - Energy Storage Devices, Specific Power Density (W/kg) 45

Figure 17 - TE-Power NODE Thermoelectric Sensor System 50

Figure 18 - JTRA-e5mini Power Supply 51

Figure 19 - System-in-Package Microsensor 57

Figure 20 - Typical Forecast for Average Sale Prices for WSN Nodes for Commercial Buildings 59

Figure 21 - Issues with Primary Batteries in Wireless Sensor Networks 61

Companies cited

3M Innovative Properties

A&H Meyer

Abcshop24.de

Ad Hoc Electronics

AdaptivEnergy

Adidas Herzogenaurach

Advanced Cerametrics

Alvi Technologies

Amber Wireless

American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)

Analog Devices

Association of Radio Industries and Businesses (ARIB)

Atlas Group

austriamicrosystems

AutoGlobal Business Network

Belgacom

Berkeley Wireless Research Center, University of California at Berkeley

Betec Controls

Blue Spark Technologies

British Petroleum (BP)

Bureau of Land Management

Cao Group Inc.

CaridoNet

Columbia University

Cooper Power Systems

Cypress Semiconductor

Digi-Key Corp.

DigiTower

Dimonoff

Distech Controls

Douglas Lighting Controls

East Japan Railway Company

Echoflex

EHRT Canada

Eltako Electronics

EMerge Alliance

Emerson Process Management

Energie Agentur

Engenuity Systems

Engineered Tax Services

EnOcean Alliance

European Commission

European Nanoelectronics Initiative Advisory Council

European Smart Metering Industry Group

Excellatron Solid State

Extronics

Ferro Solutions

Firetide

France Telecom

Freescale Semiconductor

Friedl Elektro-Systeme

Front Edge Technology

Functional Devices Inc.

Funkhtechnik

Future Electronics

GainSpan

GE Consumer & Industrial

GE Energy

GE Healthcare

Georgia Institute of Technology, Center for Nanostructure Characterization

Georgia Tech Analog, Power and Energy IC Research Lab

GreenLink Conservation Alliance

Grid Net

Hagemeyer

Hansgrohe

Hesch Industrie-Elektronik

Hewlett-Packard

HK Instruments

Hochschule Biberach

Hochschule Luzern

Holst Centre/IMEC

Honeywell

Hotel Platzl Munich

Hotel Technology

Hydro One

IBM Zurich Altstetten

IK Elektronik

Indian Institute of Technology Bombay

Infineon Technologies

Infinite Power Solutions

Innovation Incubation Alliance

Insys Microelectronics

Intel Corp.

Interior Automation

International Society of Automation

Ipcontrols

Ivory Egg

Jäger Direkt

Johnson Controls

Joint Center for Housing Studies, Harvard University

Kaga Electronics Co. Ltd.

Kagoshima University

Kansas State University

KCF Technologies

Kieback & Peter

Koenig Consulting Inc.

KVL Comp

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

LCD Lighting Controls

Ledalite

Less Wire

LG Electronics

LonMark International

Louisville Gas & Electric

Lumedyne

Magnum Energy Solutions

Martin Weber Elektroanlagen GmbH

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

MeshNetics

MicroGen

Micropelt

Microstrain

MK Electric (a Honeywell Business)

Mondial Electronic

Montage Systems

Moritani

Motorola

Nanotron Technologies

National Institute of Standards and Technology

New Buildings Institute

New Energy Technologies

Nextreme Thermal Solutions

Oak Ridge MicroEnergy

Obermeyer Planen + Beraten

Oki Semiconductor

ON Semiconductor

Osram Sylvania

Panasonic Corporation

Paper Battery Co.

Perpetuum

Pohlmann Funkbussysteme

Polar Bear

Powercast

PressFinish

Promutuel Insurance

Prudential Ltd.

Qualcomm

RadioShack

Regulvar

RF4CE Consortium

Rohm Co. Ltd.

Royal Philips Electronics

RS Group

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.

Schulte Elektrotechnik

Semper Opera Dresden

Sensor Dynamics

Servodan

Singapore Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A-STAR)

SolarBotanic

Sony Corporation

Spartan Peripheral Devices

ST Microelectronics

St. Andrews Cathedral, Canada

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (TSMC)

Tambient

Teleprofi

Terepac Corp.

Teridian

Texas Instruments

Texas Micropower

There Corporation

Thermmokon Sensortechnik

Thing Magic

T-Mac Technologies

Trilliant

Trudeau International Airport

Tyndall Institute

Ulvac Inc.

Unitronic AB

Universidad Politecnica de Madrid, Spain

University of California at Berkeley

University of Washington

UPM Raflatac

US Air Force

US Congress

US Department of Energy

US Department of Justice

US Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

US Forest Service

VA Medical Center

Vaughan Foods

Voltree Power

Washington State University, St. Louis

WeberHaus

WM Ocean

Wofram Friedl

Xtramart

Zarlink Semiconductor

Zebra Technologies

ZigBee Alliance

Zumtobel

To order this report:

Energy Harvesting & Micro Batteries: Market Forces and Demand Characteristics, Third Edition

http://www.reportlinker.com/p0164995/Energy-Harvesting--Micro-Batteries-Market-Forces-and-Demand-Characteristics-Third-Edition.html#utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=prnewswire

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Nicolas Bombourg
Reportlinker
Email: nbo@reportlinker.com
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