US micropower demand will 10 percent annually through 2006, driven by further cost reductions in advanced technologies such as fuel cells and microturbines. Micropower may not replace centralized grid power as was once expected, but will play a niche role in applications such as standalone distributed power and small-scale cogeneration.
This study analyzes the $2.2 billion US micropower industry. It presents historical data for 1992, 1996 and 2001 and forecasts to 2006 and 2011 by product (e.g., conventional small-scale generators, wind turbines, solar/photovoltaics, fuel cells, microturbines, flywheels, biomass); by application (e.g., standby power, distributed power, small-scale cogeneration, resource recovery, grid-based); and by end user.
The study also examines the market environment, reviews technology, details industry structure and market share, and profiles 34 companies including ABB, AstroPower, Ballard Power Systems, Capstone Turbine, Caterpillar, Cummins, General Electric, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Siemens, and United Technologies.
