External AC-DC Power Supplies: Worldwide Forecasts - Eleventh Edition

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Jan 28, 2015, 12:14 ET

LONDON, Jan. 28, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Topics Covered:
External AC-DC Power Supply Overview
Emerging Trends and Developments
Regional Forecasts (Asia, Europe & North America)
Wattage Forecasts (<5W, 5-10W, 11-20W, 21-50W, 51-100W, >100W)
Package Style Forecasts (Wall Plug & In Line)
Regulation Forecasts (Switchmode & Linear)
Application Forecasts (Communications, Consumer, Computing, Portable Medical, Building/Lighting)
Application Forecast by Wattage
Forecasts by Application Sub-segments
Appendix A – External AC-DC Power Supply Industry Defined

Executive Summary
The external ac-dc power supply market is projected to see substantial growth over the next five years, with the dollar market increasing from $10.7 billion in 2014 to $14.9 billion in 2019, a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.9%. Led by a number of traditional applications within the communications, computers and consumer segments as well as a number of emerging ones, the outlook for the external power supply market is expected to remain strong.

For the purpose of this report, the worldwide market includes four regions: North America, Europe, Asia and the rest of the world (ROW). The Darnell Group expects to see considerable growth for the external ac-dc power supply unit market over the forecast period in each of these regions. Overall, the worldwide unit market will grow from 3.5 billion units in 2014 to almost 6.1 million units in 2019, a CAGR of 11.3%.

The communications segment will again maintain the largest unit market and will be dominated by the mobile phone industry, which uses inexpensive low-wattage power supplies in the

<5W and 5-10W categories. As a result of the high level of commoditization for mobile phone power supplies, this segment will record the lowest per unit average selling price. Despite this, the communications segment will record the second-largest dollar market covered in the report and will present a significant opportunity for power supply manufacturers.>Again in this year's edition, the computer and consumer segments will also present tremendous opportunities as both areas see double digit increases in unit markets as well as substantial growth in the dollar markets. The portable medical and military markets are projected to be the smallest segments covered in this report. Unlike the other applications, both must meet strict regulatory standards, which do not typically apply to other applications.

As a result, the market for both military and medical is small and does not benefit from volume pricing conditions existing in other industries. Despite their relatively small size, both portable medical and military will remain two of the more promising markets for external power supplies Traditionally, external ac-dc power supplies have not been considered the "best" market for digital power management and control. Composed of adapters and battery chargers primarily for portable devices, they are not part of the high-end, distributed power systems, which are better suited to digital control. However, the "added functionalities" that enable increased efficiency (and thus meet certain rating systems and regulations) along with a number of new regulations are starting to open this market for digital power management, particularly at the IC level.

Due to the sheer size of overall of the external ac-dc power supply market it is an attractive opportunity for digital power supply manufacturers and is projected to see considerable growth over the next several years. Drivers for digitally controlled external ac-dc power supplies are coming primarily from standards and regulations mandating stricter power supply requirements.

With the emphasis on increased energy efficiency, manufacturers have the flexibility to offer power adapters that can communicate changes in power requirements, such as higher or lower voltage, or to shut off completely when not in use.

External ac-dc power supplies are traditionally a large stable market, with fewer major changes affecting the technology than other power supply markets such as the embedded dc-dc converter and module markets. However, given the areas of opportunity within the traditional three "C"s; communications, computer, consumer, as well as portable medical, military and a growing solid state lighting market, a number of new dynamics are coming into play.

Among the areas to watch are advances in technology, components and materials, in particular advanced semiconductor materials such as Gallium Nitride (GaN) which is expected to have an impact on the power supply market over the forecast period. The Adoption of GaN technology will have a major effect on the external power supply market over the next several years, as the technology promises both smaller and more efficient ac-dc power supplies and dc-dc converters.

Despite the tremendous size and strength of the external ac-dc power supply market, there are a number of emerging technologies that pose a legitimate threat to the use of external power supplies used in common electronic devices. Some of the technology threats are long-term, such as use of dc power which requires a good deal of installed infrastructure and the basic re-design of electronic applications to succeed. Others are more immediate, such as the emergence of wireless charger technology which interestingly presents both an opportunity and a threat.

Wireless power isn't about just reducing the number of external ac-dc power supplies in the world it's about increasing the capability of wirelessly powered devices in everything from cellphones and tablets to automobiles. The elimination of the need to maintain multiple external power supplies, one for each electronic device, has long been a goal for both the consumers and manufacturers of consumer electronics equipment and over the past several years there have been a number of developments moving the industry towards this goal.

However the majority of wireless chargers require the use of an external power adapter and therefore provides an opportunity to the power supply manufactures. So although wireless charging systems will present a serious long-term threat to the external power supply market, it will also present a near term opportunity.

In fact, wireless chargers were found to be a break-out technology over the forecast period and are expected to present a significant opportunity for external power supplies. They are projected to record both the fastest growing unit and dollar markets in this edition. Demand for wireless chargers will be driven by large mobile phone market and to a lesser extent the tablet market. In addition, the adoption of a specific standard for wireless charging, especially one associated with or sponsored by the IEEE will spike demand, driving it further than current projected forecasts.

This report contains 60 tables, graphs and illustrations covering the external power supply market for twenty seven applications and four regions: North America, Europe, Asia and the ROW. The focus of this comprehensive analysis will be to provide decision makers in manufacturers and operations with a detailed and insightful look at the current and future opportunities available in the external power supply market.
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