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Researchers see spike in supercapacitor demand
June 10, 2009 - by Lisa Sibley, Cleantech Group
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A new report from Lux Research today says demand for supercapacitors could be the next big thing. Market interest in supercapacitors is likely to grow from $208 million in 2008 to $877 million in 2014, according to the independent research firm's report.
The 27 percent compound annual growth rate could signify opportunity for investors as well as current and future players in the market, the report suggests, while revealing caveats on how to go about those prospects. The report includes research from 19 supercapacitor manufacturers and four application developers.
Supercapacitors are electrical storage devices that can store a high density of energy in a short time based on increased surface area by using nanomaterials. The nanotech is actually just cleantech in disguise (see Nanotechnology reduces carbon, says report). Supercapacitors, also termed electrochemical capacitors or ultracapacitors, show promise because their high power density allows fast recharge and bursts of power (see New nanocomposite process improves capacitors).
"Our analysis revealed something that has largely been ignored so far," said Jacob Grose, a Lux analyst and lead author of the report, in a news release. "Namely, that the supercapacitor market is divided between two sub-segments: Large multinational players are going after electronic applications, while the pure-plays are targeting large-size storage applications."
The report highlights basic technologies that enable supercapacitors, and what properties make these devices attractive. It also identifies opportunities in each of the markets’ sectors, including their potential size and growth, and how companies are poised to capitalize.
The report suggests supercapacitor growth will come from growth in consumer electronics, namely cell phones and digital cameras, from $122 million in 2008 to $550 million in 2014. Large storage applications, in transportation and wind turbines, are expected to expand from $86 million in 2008 to $320 million in 2014. Commoditization of carbon-based supercapacitors is also expected to allow large players to gain more market share.
Cedar Park, Texas-based ultracapacitor developer EEStor is developing an ultracapacitor that it says is longer-lasting, lighter, more powerful, and more environmentally friendly than current battery technologies (see EEStor's Weir on ultracapacitor milestone). Last month, EEStor's claims of high energy density across a broad range of operating temperatures were verified by Toronto-based electric vehicle maker Zenn Motor (TSX:ZNN). Zenn said it plans to increase its investment in EEStor to between 6.2 percent and 10.5 percent (see Zenn CEO reveals details of EEStor's progress).
Copyright © 2009 Cleantech Group LLC. All rights reserved, including right of redistribution.
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Comments
It's unfair to include EEStor and Zenn in this article
Submitted on June 10th, 2009 by Kevin (not verified)It lends unwarranted credibility to EEStor to include it in this article as a viable energy storage device on equal footing with companies and technologies that actually exist.
The statement "Last month, EEStor's claims of high energy density across a broad range of operating temperatures were verified by Toronto-based electric vehicle maker Zenn" is incorrect.
Zenn verified permittivity at 1 Volt and various frequencies across a range of temperatures on some sample that wasn't a finished product, or component of the future product. That's a long way from demonstrating energy density. The final product needs to operate at 3500 Volts to match the hoped for specs. The issue of dielectric saturation that's been raised by knowledgeable critics hasn't been addressed by Zenn or EEStor.
EEStor hasn't ever demonstrated energy density. Zenn's VP of Engineering recently said he hasn't seen the device, or a component prototype tested at voltage, so the energy density is still a mystery to Zenn, and certainly to the public.
I think this story is almost over with. Zenn is now doing a stock sale to try to keep the doors open for a while longer. The details of that sale have yet to be disclosed. If the terms are draconian, you can stick a fork in this story and finally people can forget about it.
Eestor
Submitted on June 10th, 2009 by Average Joe (not verified)Throughout history, at the verge of every major technological breakthrough were skeptics and critics just like the above saying that it couldn't or wouldn't be done.
Anyone with half a brain knows that we aren't done making new discoveries and new breakthroughs so why should EESTOR'S quest be any less possible than the moon landing, the microwave oven, the airplane, the light bulb, nuclear energy, organ transplants...the list goes on. If Eestor doesn't do it, someone else will so open your mind a bit and realize that as much as we know and as far as we've come, we're just scratching the surface of our potential. Anything is possible.
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