Market Trends of Electric Drives Industry
Power Generation to be the Major End-user Industry
- Electric drives are critical in saving energy, improving performance, simplifying a system, and cutting downtime in nuclear reactors. For instance, during operations, when the fast passage of liquid is required to cool down the reactor core, it is usual to have four big 6 kV recirculation pumps and more than 100 control values operating simultaneously. This factor accounts for around 25% of the energy costs of running a nuclear power plant.
- This supports the significance of using electric drives in the nuclear power industry. A nuclear power plant in the Tennessee Valley increased its efficiency from 70% to 95% by switching from motor technology to electric drives. Electricity costs can be cut by 50% when drives are used while reducing CO2 emissions.
- Furthermore, by ensuring uninterrupted water circulation, drive technology applications help the plants protect the fuel rods and nuclear fuel, both vulnerable to turbulence. In this regard, the rules are very strict. It is best to increase the electricity supply gradually, which can be done by carefully controlling AC and DC drives. In nations like France and the United Kingdom, new opportunities are anticipated to result from this. Nuclear power plants produce more than two-thirds of the electricity in France.
- Also, it has been estimated that electric motors account for about 65% of the electricity consumed in industrial applications; hence, the energy-saving potential of low-voltage motors in industries is enormous. Energy consumption depends on the motor's kW rating, loading, and hours run. Therefore, high-efficiency low-voltage motors, as such, can play a significant role in reducing CO2 emissions.
Energy demand is rising steadily. At the same time, pressure to reduce energy consumption, lower carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, and provide secure power supplies is becoming more reliable. According to Exxon Mobil, worldwide electricity demand will reach around 35.3 petawatt hours by 2040. It is expected to drive market growth over the forecast period.
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Asia Pacific Expected to be the Fastest Growing Region
- The Asia-Pacific region is significantly investing in the studied market's growth, primarily due to the rapidly growing end-user industries such as oil and gas, water and wastewater, chemical and petrochemical, food and beverage, power generation, HVAC, pulp and paper, discrete industries, and many others in the studied market.
- The growth of the industrial and manufacturing sectors, especially across countries such as China, India, and Taiwan, is expected to drive the demand for AC electric drives during the forecast period. For instance, according to IBEF, in India, outputs increased for natural gas by 11.7%, petroleum refinery production by 3.7%, coal by 8.2%, steel by 2.8%, cement by 13.6%, and electricity by 0.5% in January 2022.
- With increased investments in the oil and gas upstream and midstream sectors, the AC drive market is expected to grow during the forecast period. Furthermore, oil and gas upstream companies are gradually investing in oil production activities, which will increase the replacement rate of AC electric motors, supporting market growth. In addition, in May 2022, the ONGC announced plans to invest USD 4 billion from FY22-25 to increase its exploration efforts in India.
- Furthermore, the economic growth of the middle class has significantly impacted the demand for automobiles in India. For instance, according to the Federation of Automobile Dealers Association (FADA), about 2,11,20,441 passenger vehicles and tractors were sold in the country in 2022, reporting a growth of about 15.28% year-on-year. Furthermore, in recent years, local automobile manufacturers have enhanced their presence, with companies like Tata Motors, Mahindra, Suzuki, and Bajaj significantly expanding their sales figures. To compete with global players, these companies are investing significantly in automated production lines and expanding their manufacturing footprint, driving the demand for electric drives.
- South Korea is a highly urbanized country with a high per capita income. Due to a rising middle-class population and an increasing number of houses, commercial buildings, and other structures, the demand for HVAC systems has been increasing in the country. As these systems use electric drives for applications such as motor control, the growth of the sector will drive the demand for electric drives during the forecast period.
- Although the growth of the electric drives market in Southeast Asian countries has not been at par with other major countries in the Asia-Pacific region, in recent years, the area's economic development and various industries' development have created opportunities in the studied market. The industrial and manufacturing sector is also witnessing notable growth in Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand and Indonesia. For instance, Thailand and Indonesia are among the leading automobile manufacturers in the region. As motors and generators are widely used in automated production lines of the automotive industry, the demand for electric drives is expected to grow during the forecast period.
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