n-tech Research Issues Latest Forecast of Global BIPV Market

Glen Allen, VA: n-tech Research has issued its latest forecast of the global BIPV market. In the new release n-tech Research sees robust growth of the technology fueled by government policies, near-zero mandates and the availability of off-the-shelf BIPV products. The firm projects that BIPV shipments will grow from 1,925 mw this year to over 6,600 mw in 2025.

Details of the report are available at: https://www.ntechresearch.com/market-reports/building-integrated-pv-markets-2021-2025/

About the report:

The goal of this report is to quantify the market for BIPV in major countries. Ten countries account for the majority of the BIPV market: US, Germany, the UK, Spain, France, Italy, Scandinavia, Japan, China, and South Korea and are the focus of the report with a total global forecast provided. The product breakout is roof, wall, and glass and segmented by type. Buildings analyzed are broken out into finer segments; Government, Corporate offices, Educational, Medical, Hospitality, Transportation centers, Factories, Warehouses, MTUs, and Residential homes.

The deliverable consists of a report and accompanying separate spreadsheet. The BIPV market is presented in both value and MW and broken out by type of building and BIPV product. Clients can purchase the full data set or by product class or major regions. Individual country deep dives are also available.

From the report:

• While BIPV remains to be a less cost effective/efficient solution than traditional solar, the economics of the technology and products continues to improve thus providing building owners a more compelling ROI opportunity. Generous tax incentives combined with aggressive government mandates are also helping to make the case as well. Increasing home prices in the US make the aesthetics proposition much more viable financially.

• Roofing products will dominate the BIPV market through 2025 but both glass and walling/cladding will see higher growth rates, each seeing market activity nearing $3 billion annual revenues at the end of the forecast period. Organic photovoltaics (OPV) will see some growth because of building owners looking to add energy capture to the building structures via windows or cladding. OPV solutions are best suited to leveraging glass surface areas while maintaining aesthetics and controlling light transfer.

• Cost has been a major limiting factor for the BIPV market. Traditional panels are cheaper and yield more energy but at a cost of aesthetics which are not always resolvable. The more up styling of the deployments results in higher cost and a narrowing of the gap between traditional and BIPV though.

• The lack of mass customization and manufacturing capacity has also been a significant cost issue vs traditional solar with its mega factories and standardized products. n-tech notes that efforts in Europe to drive the industry towards mass customization should help bring costs down.

• Although the largest BIPV markets are China and the U.S., Europe is a significant driver of the business and technology. Near-Zero Energy Buildings (NZEBs) mandates throughout the EU have provided some impetus for BIPV deployments especially with the technologies’ ability to fit into building control systems.

About n-tech Research:

n-tech Research provides industry analysis and market forecasting of opportunities presented by advanced materials and their application in energy, electronics, and other innovative market segments. Leveraging the firm’s founders combined 70 years of experience, n-tech Research delivers carefully considered results to clients via its reports and services.

Contact:

n-tech Research
info@ntechresearch.com
804-972-1043
www.ntechresearch.com

New Smart Windows Market Report from n-tech Research Predicts $2.6 Billion in Revenues by 2026

Richmond, Virginia: Industry analyst firm n-tech Research has just issued its latest global smart windows market report.  In the report the firm notes that while the smart windows business has failed to achieve the revenues and market acceptance once predicted, the coming decade may finally produce what has eluded the space for so long.  The growing global focus on reducing carbon and greenhouse gas emissions and meeting net zero mandates will result in demand for a range of technologies such as electrochromics, solar, sensors and software for building controls.  Government mandates combined with incentives and development of advanced building materials and technologies will serve as powerful drivers which will, in turn, grow the smart windows market from around $300 million in 2021 to 2.6 billion in 2026.

Additional details about the new n-tech Research smart windows markets report are available at: https://www.ntechresearch.com/market-reports/smart-windows-market-opportunities/ 

Just over a decade ago, smart windows were seen as a viable technology and a market to invest in. But despite the messaging of improved energy efficiency and improvements to working conditions within offices, revenues and market acceptance failed to materialize.  The huge amounts of money raised by electrochromic window supplier, View, showed that the smart windows market was a story about dreams and possibilities versus actual product sales and market growth.

In addition to net zero mandates that make smart windows a consideration, trends in smart cities and smart buildings and developments in materials/coating technology that will lead to even further improved cost/performance ratios in smart windows may offer additional hope to the sector.  However, the report warns that if smart windows fail to take off in a smart windows/smart cities environment or are seen as less attractive than other carbon reduction technologies they will remain a niche business forever.

 

About the report:

This report analyzes and forecasts the worldwide smart windows market over the coming decade. The smart windows technologies that are covered include electrochromic glass, SPD (suspended particle device systems), PDLC and newer variants on liquid crystal; notably the new smart windows technology from Merck.  The dominant smart windows technology is electrochromic (EC) and includes product offerings from Brite Solar, EControl-X, ChromoGenics, Finnglass, Heliotrope Technologies, Kinestral Technologies, Miru Smart Technologies, SageGlass and View.  These and other prominent smart windows firms are profiled in the report.

This report goes further than other reports on smart windows opportunities by analyzing the specific opportunities for smart windows in office buildings, retail/stores, industrial buildings, multitenant buildings, single family homes, hotels and the hospitality sector, healthcare, airports (a particular favorite of the smart windows industry), educational institutions and greenhouses.  We also provide a review of the status of smart windows in cars and aircraft. And this new n-tech report also includes a granular ten-year forecast for the revenues and volumes from smart windows shipments likely. Break outs of these forecasts are provided for major applications and technologies. The report also discusses the costs trends for the smart windows markets.

From the report:

    • A strong driver for the renewed interest is that smart windows are being repositioned as part of an emerging smart building meme. This includes enabling integration with older building networking platforms such as Modbus, BACNet or (for more functionality) smart windows vendor proprietary networks. Taking this to the next stage smart windows will become part of edge networks in smart buildings or smart cities through the use of smart windows gateways.

 

    • Smart windows become smarter with the use of more sensors and then AI. The report suggests that sensors will find extensive use for real-time tint. Smart windows are now expected to change on a real-time basis in response to weather conditions and without human intervention and more importantly without delay. AI may also be employed to get smart windows to respond to changing human behaviors. Factors such as when people switch on lights, when they take a break, type of work they do at a particular time, etc. can be fed into advanced algorithms for real-time tint. SageGlass already has a model-based, predictive algorithm along with exterior sensors that dictate the tinting of glass.

 

    • We are seeing the beginnings of the next phase in the evolution of smart windows based on innovations in fabrication and materials technology. If these succeed, lower-cost EC glass will be established as an option in a broader range of buildings constructed without extravagant budgets.   Another aspect to this is the role that China or other lower cost manufacturing centers will play both in electronics and units much like it has done with the solar industry.

About n-tech Research:

Founded in 2003 as NanoMarkets, n-tech Research provides industry analysis and market forecasting of opportunities presented by advanced materials and their application in energy, electronics and other cutting edge market segments.  Leveraging the firm’s founders combined 70 years of experience, n-tech Research delivers carefully considered results to clients via its reports and services.

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Global BIPV Market to Reach $5.7 Billion in 2023, Says New n-tech Report

Global BIPV Market

Glen Allen, VA: Industry analyst firm n-tech Research has just issued its latest report on the global BIPV market.  The report titled, “BIPV Market Forecast and Analysis 2018-2027.” projects that the worldwide building integrated photovoltaics market will reach $2.9 billion in revenues in 2018 and grow to reach $5.7 billion in 2023 and $11.6 billion in 2027.

Additional details about the report including a table of contents and figures as well as the a downloadable sample can be found at:  https://www.ntechresearch.com/market-reports/bipv-market-forecast/

About the report:

This report on the global bipv market provides extensive and detailed ten-year forecasts, in both revenue ($ millions) and volume (MW) terms, for worldwide BIPV systems sales.  The report analyzes demand for BIPV in 13 different nations/regions and examines how BIPV products — roofing, walling and glass — are evolving.  The building types included in the report include: government-owned offices; corporate HQs; educational institutions; hospitals/clinics; hotels/motels; airports; multi-tenant units; luxury homes; factories and warehouses

The report also includes a discussion of the impact on BIPV of reductions in PV subsidies compensated for by mandates for near-zero energy buildings. It also examines whether thin-film and organic PV will make a comeback in BIPV. The report also discusses the business strategies of the leading firms in the BIPV space. n-tech has a decade of experience covering the BIPV market and an insider knowledge of the market and its economic and technology drivers.

From the Report

  • While most of the BIPV opportunity will remain in the commercial sector residential BIPV will grow at a much faster rate and will account for 15 percent of the worldwide BIPV market by 2023 and will generate $872 million in revenues. For now, much of the BIPV business will remain in the hands of local developers, builders and architects, but as BIPV revenues grow unique BIPV products and brands will finally emerge. For this to happen will take large investments from large companies and we note that already Saint-Gobain has invested in BIPV through CertainTeed.
  • By 2023, the top three geographical markets for BIPV will be (in order of the size of revenues generated) the US, China and Japan. Together, these three countries will account for 75 percent of the BIPV market revenues in 2023.  Both China and Japan are expected to generate well over $1 billion in revenues in 2023, with the US supporting $2.0 billion.  The drivers for BIPV adoption vary from country to country, however.  In the US, certain states – notably California – have strong pro-solar mandates.  In Japan anti-nuclear sentiments combined with a long-established tradition of using integrated solar helps to fuel BIPV demand.
  • The materials technology issue that was hotly discussed in the BIPV market of a few years ago is slowing begin to reemerge. n-tech would not be surprised to see the silicon vs. thin-film issue re-enter the BIPV market debate in the next 12 months the firm notes that rising products in the global BIPV market already include thin-film products from RGS and Hanergy.

About n-tech:

n-tech Research is the recognized leader in providing industry analysis and forecasts for emerging technologies and advanced and smart materials.  Visit the firm’s website at http://www.ntechresearch.com  for a full listing of the company’s reports and other services.

Contact:

Robert Nolan
n-tech Research
(804) 938-0030
rob@ntechresearch.com

 

 

New n-tech Report Says Global Smart Windows Market to Reach $ 5.6 billion by 2023

Global Smart Windows Market

Glen Allen, VA:  In its latest report on the global smart windows market, “Smart Windows Markets: 2018-2027”, n-tech Research predicts that the market  will reach revenues of $5.6 billion by 2023 compared to $375 million in 2018. Much of this growth will come from smart windows moving from solely being a luxury building product to serving the needs of mid-range commercial buildings and residential multi-tenant buildings.

Details about the report, including a downloadable excerpt are available at:  https://www.ntechresearch.com/market-reports/smart-windows-markets-2018-2027/

This report is the latest deliverable from n-tech’s research program on the global smart windows market. This just-released report investigates the technology and market changes that have occurred since then.

 

global smart windows market

Source, n-tech Research

About the report:

n-tech has been covering smart windows markets for almost a decade and has watched the industry struggle through years of trying to make a case for smart windows based entirely on energy savings. While energy savings will remain a powerful driver for smart windows the report identifies several other technological and market drivers that are combining to make 2018 a transformatory year for the business.

This report quantifies the market for “smart windows” based on electrochromic (EC), SPD, PDLC and passive technologies in both volume (square meters) and value ($ millions) terms.  It also discusses how smart windows are being aggressively melded into the Internet-of-things (IoT) business ecosystem and how the markets for smart windows are moving beyond the luxury buildings that characterized smart windows up until now.  Both smart windows for buildings and transportation (automotive, aerospace and marine) are covered.

The report provides ten-year revenue forecasts broken out by material/technology type and application.  In addition, the report discusses the business models being employed by leading firms in the smart windows space including their use of automation. Companies discussed in this report include: Argil, Chameleon, Guardian, Polytronix, Research Frontiers, SageGlass/Saint-Gobain, View, Smart Film Glass, RavenWindow, Pleotint, ChromoGenics, EControl-Glas, e-Chromic, Gentex, Boeing, Daimler-Benz, PPG, Asahi Glass and Vision Systems Aeronautics.

From the report:

Electrochromic materials account for the lion’s share of the market for the period under consideration. More than 90% of these windows will be electrochromic technology.  Passive smart windows, PDLC, and SPD smart windows will find profitable niches.  With EC the winning solution, new technologies aimed at the smart windows market will now find it very difficult to succeed.

Until recently smart windows were found overwhelmingly in prestige buildings that were characterized by very high budgets, designed to impress, with the use of smart windows.  However, in 2018 the smart windows market is opening up to a wider market including mid-range commercial buildings and multitenant residential blocks.

n-tech expects smart windows to become an important component in the Internet of Things (IoT).  By 2023, the firm expects that 90 percent of smart windows sales will include IoT or some other form of automation technology.

The selling point for smart windows will move beyond energy savings towards comfort, aesthetics, spatial experience, controllability and integration with other elements of smart buildings including lighting, networking and security.

About n-tech:

n-tech Research is the rebrand of NanoMarkets.  Our firm is the recognized leader in industry analysis and forecasts in smart materials and advanced materials more generally. Visit http://www.ntechresearch.com for a full listing of the firm’s reports and other services.

Contact:

Robert Nolan
n-tech Research
(804) 938-0030
rob@ntechresearch.com

Radiation Detection Materials and Equipment Markets To Reach $39.2 Billion Market in 2022

Glen Allen, VA: Industry analyst firm n-tech Research today announced its latest report titled “Radiation Detection Markets:  A Worldwide Forecast of Materials and Equipment – 2017 to 2026.”  This new study forecasts the market for radiation detection materials and equipment will reach $39.2 billion by 2026. The report is the latest in a series on radiation detection studies from n-tech that dates back to 2011.

For details on the report please visit, http://ntechresearch.com/product/radiation-detection-markets-a-worldwide-forecast-of-materials-and-equipment-2017-to-2026

About the Report:

This report provides n-tech’s latest forecasts and analysis of the radiation detection equipment and materials market. n-tech believes that this report will be a must-read for marketing, business development and product management executives at radiation detection business as within specialty chemical companies, electronics firms, medical systems suppliers and the energy industry.  The report:

Provides ten-year forecasts (in both volume and value terms) of both materials and equipment in key applications including medical, homeland security, military, R&D, oil and mining, nuclear power, scrap metal, food irradiation, etc.  The markets are also broken out by geography.

Offers insight into the status of a wide range of materials for detection of gamma rays, x-rays and neutrons. Materials that have been used for decades for gamma and x-ray detection are not going away, but replacement materials are on the horizon.  In the report we provide guidance on how regulatory changes and new materials development will provide major structural changes in the radiation detection materials market.

Includes coverage of a broad range of radiation detection equipment, from personal dosimeters and handheld devices to radiation detection portals, radiation detection networks and drone-mounted devices.  Special attention is given to emerging personal detection devices and the report also investigates, how new materials are being utilized to support the trend towards handheld detection

Identifies the product development strategies of leading equipment and materials suppliers The report also assess the commercial implications of how the latest radiation detection equipment  and materials are speeding up detection, reducing false alarms, and offering more accurate detection and data tracking.  The strategies of leading firms in the radiation detection market are also profiled.

From the Report:

Medical markets continue to dominate radiation detection.  In 2022, medical radiation equipment will account for 74 percent of the entire radiation detection market.  Factors supporting the market for radiation detection equipment include aging populations and regulations that increasingly limit the amount of radiation that patients can be exposed to and therefore require more detection equipment to support their enforcement

Viable substitutes for the standard radiation detection material, NaI, are generating rapidly growing revenues and will reach $2.4 billion by 2022.  These alternative materials now include CsI, CLYC, HPGe, boron, rare earths, silicates, tellurides and polymers.  The applications for all of these materials are extensively discussed the report.  The ultimate goal is a material with better resolution, faster decay time, better resistance to environment and radiation, while maintaining reasonable light yield and cost.  The LBNL scintillator website lists over 564 possible materials, but only a few of these are suitable for commercialization.
Portable radiation devices are becoming a hot item in almost every application, although the markets for these devices are often not huge by radiation detection equipment market standards. For example, about $100 million in revenues will be generated by personal radiation detectors (PRDs) in 2017 rising to $260 million in 2026.  However, Radio Isotope Identification Devices (RIIDs) are often handheld devices and by 2022 the market for RIIDs will exceed $800 million.

About n-tech Research

n-tech Research is the rebrand of industry analyst firm NanoMarkets.  The firm tracks and analyzes emerging markets in energy, electronics and other area created by developments in advanced materials. The firm is a recognized leader in industry analysis and forecasts of the radiation detection market.

Contact:

Robert Nolan
n-tech Research
(804) 938-0030
rob@ntechresearch.com

New n-tech Research Report Predicts Smart Windows Markets to Reach $1.8 billion by 2021

Glen Allen, VA: n-tech Research has announced the release of a new report titled, “Smart Windows Markets: 2016-2025.” This report pegs total revenues from smart windows at $1.8 billion, rising to $8.0 billion by 2025.

This report continues the firm’s coverage of smart windows markets that dates back to 2008. It discusses the opportunities across a broad range of materials platforms for both automotive and building glass. It is also the first report to analyze how the smart windows business is leveraging the opportunities afforded by the Internet-of-Things.

The ten-year forecasts in this report are completely revised from previous n-tech smart windows reports and take account to latest technology trends, real estate and automotive industry statistics, and pricing information, as well as the installed bases of the leading smart windows technology providers. This report presents granular ten-year projections in both volume (square meters) and value ($ millions) terms. Breakouts include by technology, end-user type and industry and geographic location of smart windows. Separate forecasts are provided commercial real estate, residential real estate, automobiles, public transport and aerospace.

In addition, the report discusses the product/market strategies of the leading smart windows providers including: Argil, Asahi Glass, Chromogenics, Gentex, Guardian Industries, Hitachi, New Visual Media, NSG, Pleotint, Polytronix, PPG, RavenWindow, Research Frontiers, Sage, Saint-Gobain, Scienstry, SWITCH Materials, Toray, US e-Chromics, and View, among others.

Additional details about the report are available at: http://ntechresearch.com/product/smart-windows-markets-2016-2025

From the Report:

Rather than just a materials play, as it once was, n-tech believes that much of the value added available to smart windows suppliers will flow from control systems, interfaces and related electronics. Today smart windows are very much an Internet-of-Things (IoT) story and this report explores how this development is creating opportunities for the smart windows firms. It also explores how smart windows materials platforms – electrochromic, SPD, PDLC, photochromic and thermochromic will adapt to this new challenge.

In the past the benefits of smart windows have generally be defined almost exclusively in terms of energy efficiency. What n-tech is seeing is that the marketing story around smart windows is now broadening to include comfort, health and daylighting issue. This report examines smart windows in the construction, automotive and aerospace sectors. Also, as part of this analysis we examine the potential for smart window retrofits.

Other Findings:

Electrochromic (EC) technology will account for 75 percent of revenues in the smart windows space in 2021, more than twice the share that it has in 2016. The advent of EC film will enable a smart windows retrofit market to emerge for the first time, as well as novel EC materials being used. EC technology is also where the bulk of investment dollars are flowing.

n-tech expects manufacturers of the other active smart windows materials platforms (PDLC and SPD) to respond with new marketing and R&D efforts to broaden the market for these technologies. The firm sees SPD, while smaller than EC technology, reaching around $280 million by 2021.

Smart windows are penetrating the construction market at a brisk rate and will contribute more than $1.3 billion in revenues by 2021 compared with just $105 million in 2016.

Aerospace applications for smart windows are also attracting growing attention from both EC and SPD technology providers, but will never be much more than a niche market.

The automotive market for smart windows is only just beginning to take off and its success will depend to some extent on whether current efforts by the EC firms in the automotive space are successful.

Passive smart windows will also be looking for new markets since cannot be easily integrated into the IoT environment. n-tech anticipates that revenues from passive windows will struggle to reach $100 million in revenue in 2021.

About n-tech:

n-tech Research is the rebrand of NanoMarkets. Our firm is a recognized leader in industry analysis and forecasts in advanced materials and novel energy sources. Visit https://ntechresearch.com/ for a full listing of the firm’s reports and other services.

n-tech Research Releases Free Paper, “Smart Coatings in Aerospace Markets”

Glen Allen, VA:  Industry analyst firm n-tech Research today announced that it will be releasing its annual survey of the smart coatings market in late June of 2016. The report titled, “Smart Coatings Markets 2016-2025” provides a unique collection of market analysis and forecasting that provides companies a single source of comprehensive smart coatings data. Details of the report are available at: http://ntechresearch.com/market_reports/smart-coatings-markets-2016-2025.   The firm is offering pre-publication pricing on the report through June 24, 2016.

In advance of the report the firm has released a preview of the report titled, “ Smart Coatings in Aerospace Markets” that examines the market trends opportunities for smart coatings within the aerospace sector.  Persons interested in receiving the paper may do so by requesting a copy via the n-tech Research website at http://ntechresearch.com/contactus

From the paper: 

Aerospace coatings represent a well-defined segment of the coatings industry as a whole and one that is open to new types of coatings and coating processes and has embraced nanocoatings throughout the aerospace industry.  Plasma spray and 3D printing are also in use on critical parts in aircraft engines and other components. As n-tech sees it, there are no barriers to entry for smart coatings suppliers in aerospace markets based on a perceived need in the industry to adhere to traditional materials.

But the real question for firms making smart coatings is, can these coatings be sold as enabling important advantages along the dimensions of (1) safety (2) comfort (3) fuel economy (4) other operational efficiencies. As n-tech sees it, these are four established areas where aircraft manufacturers—if convinced that their use of specialist coatings can lead to demonstrable cost or performance improvements—will quickly make commitments to new coatings.

About the report:

In its report, “Smart Coatings Markets 2016-2025”, n-tech identifies the emerging market opportunities for smart coatings across a wide range of applications in consumer products, medicine and healthcare, construction, automotive, marine, energy and military areas.  The report examines the use of a wide variety of materials with self-healing, anti-corrosion, anti-fouling, self-cleaning, self-monitoring, self-assembling and other smart functionalities.  Multifunctional coatings that combine two or more of these functionalities are also discussed.

Finally, we provide a roadmap and ten-year forecast (in volume and value terms) for smart coatings in each sector covered and, where possible, we provide breakouts by materials type.  In addition, the report also assesses the R&D and marketing strategies of the leading firms that are active in the commercialization of smart coatings.  In addition, the report also examines how smart surfaces will find their place in smart environments where they must compete with embedded sensors and smart coatings.

About n-tech:

n-tech Research is the rebrand of NanoMarkets.  Our firm is a recognized leader in industry analysis and forecasts in smart coatings and materials markets.  Visit http://www.ntechresearch.com for a full listing of the firm’s reports and other services.

Contact:

Robert Nolan
n-tech Research
(804) 938-0030
rob@ntechresearch.com

Electrochromic Glass Becoming A $3 Billion Market by 2020, says n-tech Research

Glen Allen, VA: A new report from industry analyst firm n-tech Research indicates the market for electrochromic (EC) glass and film systems will approach $3.0 billion in revenue by 2020, and keep growing to nearly $4.2 billion by 2023. Much of the revenue generation will come from the mature sector of self-dimming auto mirrors, but the real growth opportunities will be in smart windows for buildings and vehicles, as well as potentially new applications such as lenses for mobile devices. Details of the new report, “Electrochromic Glass and Film Markets 2016-2023” are available at:  http://ntechresearch.com/product/electrochromic-glass-and-film-markets-2016-2023

About the Report:

This report updates n-tech’s evaluation of the electrochromic glass market, identifying and quantifying opportunities that have emerged and which we see emerging over the coming eight-year period. This includes granular eight-year forecasts in both volume and value terms.

The scope of our analysis, and to some extent the forecasts, also includes the electrode materials used for EC windows. We also cover substrate materials for smart windows, both plastic and glass. We also discuss changing manufacturing patterns within the EC glass business, and why we continue to anticipate changes at the manufacturing level that eventually should prove critical to the commercial future of EC glass.

We also analyze examine the strategies of leading firms marketing EC glass and film, and show how novel EC materials play into the total smart windows value chain. Companies discussed in this report include:  Asahi Glass, Boeing, Chromogenics, Continental Automotive Systems, Corning, E-Chromic Technologies, EControl-Glas, Fuyao, Gentex, Gesimat, Guardian, HelioTrope Technologies, Magna International, Merck, Next Energy, NexTint, NSG/Pilkington, PPG, Sage Electrochromics, Saint-Gobain, SunPartner, Switch Materials, Tesla, and View.

Highlights from the Report:

  • n-tech continues to see the brightest future for EC technology in smart windows. This sector is still relatively tiny today, but we see it growing substantially over the next several years. We see smart windows in buildings surging from barely $40 million today to nearly $500 million by 2019. Automotive smart windows will come along more slowly but we see this sector approaching $500 million as well, by the end of our eight-year forecast period. More novel applications are still being evaluated, such as for camera assemblies in mobile devices, where potential addressable markets could be massive with billions of annual shipments.
  • Customers evaluating smart windows have become more receptive over the past year or two to understanding a broader cost-comparison of not just glass but at avoided up-front costs, such as shading systems, interior lighting, and downsized HVAC investments. Compared on that level, EC firms say they are now matching or even winning the business case.
  • Another message that is resonating with EC glass customers, especially for owner-occupied buildings, is connecting the dots between daylighting, more comfortable interior working spaces, and occupant productivity. Overstock.com, which will have 40,000 ft2 of EC glass in its new headquarters in Salt Lake City, calculates every 1 percent more productivity for its $100 million payroll is worth $1 million.
  • ROI of the glass itself is still something of a touchy subject; costs are still far higher for EC (we’re hearing 2x vs. low-end static glass). Nevertheless, there are incremental improvements here as companies get more comfortable with and keep scaling up their production efforts. At the same time, we still think newer manufacturing and technology approaches will be needed for major cost improvements; these would include wet processing and printing, and more use of EC on plastic films.
  • Projects in the pipeline are growing not just in number (Sage and View have doubled their pipelines in the past year), but in size and scope as well. Many are now in the tens of thousands of ft2, instead of measured mostly in hundreds or a thousand ft2. This not only speaks to market success, but it helps de-risk the technology and provide reference points for many new customers evaluating dynamic glass.
  • On the technology front, we’re not seeing or hearing of any real game-changing updates to change our previous thinking about where they all stand relative to each other seeking market inroads. We continue to hear strong support for existing processes (sputtering and deposition) and commitment to achieving incremental improvements in productivity and cost. Nevertheless, we continue to believe that major improvements in both areas eventually will usher in newer and simpler lower-cost options: plastic or film substrates, and wet coating and even printing technologies.

About n-tech Research:

n-tech Research is the leading provider of market research and industry analysis for the advanced materials sector, with a special focus on the latest functional and smart materials. Visit http://www.ntechresearch.com for a full listing of the firm’s services.

Contact:

Robert Nolan
n-tech Research
(804) 938-0030
rob@ntechresearch.com

n-tech Research Forecasts BIPV Glass Market Rising to $3.5 billion by 2020

Glen Allen, VA: In a newly issued report, n-tech Research projects that the market for BIPV glass at just over $1 billion today will grow to $3.5 billion by 2020 and $6.3 billion by 2022. Details of the new report, “BIPV Glass Markets 2015-2022” are available at:  http://ntechresearch.com/market_reports/bipv-glass-markets-2015-2022

About the Report:

In our view, BIPV overall is in a transition and must refine its messaging to an end-user base with shifting priorities. More than ever these products need to be sold, and technologically developed, with an emphasis on aesthetics and what can be called “smart” capabilities, creating more dimensions along which to compete such as color, transparency, and substrate conformability.

Where we envision the next stage of “true” BIPV, and sooner rather than later, is in BIPV glass with truly multifunctional and monolithically integrated products. This future will rely heavily on thin-film, OPV, and DSC technologies with the promise of lower-cost fabrication to reduce overall costs. We also anticipate a reshaping of manufacturing strategies and supply chains to develop and deliver these products, building on partnerships already been forged between alternative PV materials companies and big glass companies.

This report presents the latest trends in BIPV glass, analyzing the evolution of the technology and markets over the next eight years. We discuss the different types of BIPV glass technology, and the latest developments in PV technologies, substrates, and encapsulation. We also examine the strategies of the major BIPV glass companies and their key BIPV partners, and provide some thoughts as to potential changes in supply chains to improve odds of success.

Companies discussed in this report include:  Asahi Glass, Belectric, BGT, Dyesol, Exeger, Glass2energy, Hanergy, Heliatek, IQ Glass, Issol, Prism Solar, Sunpreme, Lumos, Manz, Mitsubishi,NSG/Pilkington, Onyx Solar, Oxford PV, PolySolar, Romag, Solar Frontier, Solaria, Strathcona Energy, SwissInso, TULiPPs and others.

Highlights from the Report:

  • The presence and influence of large glass companies (AGC, NSG/Pilkington, and BGT as examples) will only intensify, through aforementioned partnerships with PV companies as well as with building product firms and installers. While we hear conflicting reports about whether they are still skittish since the broader PV industry upheaval, our impression is that they do seem directly committed—though they may view “true” BIPV revenue opportunities as quite smaller and on a longer timeline than others believe.
  • A central question for BIPV glass is whether key PV vendors (notably Heliatek in OPV, and Dyesol and Oxford in DSC) stay on target with planned production volumes around 2017-2018. There is much ado over the new wonder-material perovskite, but the storyline is the same: whether it too can achieve volume scales and deliver products to the market in a reasonable timeframe.
  • We think selling BIPV glass as part of a “green” theme is broadly losing steam with increased scrutiny of regional and national PV policies. That said, two specific areas seem to be robust: zero-energy buildings, and highly urban areas. We see revenues for BIPV glass in zero-energy buildings surging past $800 million in 2018 and more than $2.5 billion by 2022.
  • n-tech expects BIPV glass will unlock residential building demand in a more medium-term timeframe, approaching $200 million by 2018 and surpassing $1.3 billion by 2022.

About n-tech Research:

n-tech Research is the leading provider of market research and industry analysis for the advanced materials sector, with a special focus on the latest functional and smart materials. Visit http://www.ntechresearch.net for a full listing of the firm’s services.

Contact:

Robert Nolan
n-tech Research
(804) 938-0030
rob@ntechresearch.com

n-tech Research Issues Latest Smart Windows Materials Report, Projects $760 Million Market in 2020

Glen Allen, Virginia:  Industry analyst firm n-tech Research today announced the release of a new report titled “ Smart Windows Materials Markets: 2015-2022.”  According to this report, materials used in smart windows will grow to around $760 billion by 2020.  Coverage includes materials based on electrochromics, thermochromics, photochromics, electrophoretics, SPD, PDLC, hydrogels and microblinds. The report also discusses opportunities in film and glass substrates used for smart windows.

This report is the latest from n-tech’s extensive coverage of smart materials.  Other related n-tech reports include studies of smart coatings, smart surfaces, self-healing materials and building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV).  n-tech has provided coverage of the smart materials business for over six years and believes that smart windows are among the most commercially promising smart building products.

Details about the report, including a downloadable excerpt, are available at: http://ntechresearch.com/product/smart-windows-materials-markets-2015-2022

About the report:

This report quantifies the markets for smart windows materials used in buildings, as well as in transportation.  It provides eight-year forecasts for smart windows materials, with breakouts for the various types of materials used in each application.  It also discusses the business models currently being employed by the firms in smart windows materials business.

Companies discussed in this report include: 3M, Asahi Glass, BASF, Chameleon Photochromic Smart Film, Chromogenics, Commonwealth Glass, Coolkote, Corning, DuPont, Eastman Chemical/Solutia, Eastman Chemicals, GE, Gentex, , GlasNovations, Guardian Industries, Hitachi, HP, Johnson Laminations, Materion, Merck, Mitsubishi, NDFOS, NSG, Pleotint, PPG, Ravenwindow, Research Frontiers, Sage, Saint-Gobain, Schott, Scienstry, SKC, Soladigm, Southwall, SolutiaSolvay, Suntek, SWITCH Materials, Toray, Transition Window Tint, US e-Chromics, and View.

From the report: 

Smart windows are primarily a materials play, but none of the materials platforms that have yet emerged  in the smart windows space are without problems. There remain many opportunities for improved and entirely new smart windows materials, although electrochromic (EC) materials have a short-term advantage at the present time.  By 2020, n-tech believes that revenues from EC glass and film will reach $620 million.

No technology has established a strong enough lead as yet to constitute a significant barrier to entry. Three new technologies (electrophoretics, electrowetting and hydrogels) have entered since n-tech last produced a report on smart windows materials opportunities.  These new materials will take time to generate revenues, but may lead to the formation of new startups in the smart windows space. New uses for electrophoretic and electrowetting may bring new opportunities for firms currently active in the flagging e-paper business.

Other existing smart windows materials are expected to find niche markets in which they are quite successful. SPD has had success in the automotive sector and is making inroads into the aircraft industry.  PDLC is a popular choice for dynamic privacy glass. Revenues from SPD and PDLC in 2020 are expected to reach almost $80 millions.

There are many other opportunities to create variations on existing material platforms. For example, some smart windows firms are looking at adding multiple colors to windows.  Others want to lower costs through the introduction of new materials or additives .  There are plenty of options to choose from – for example, almost all inorganic materials exhibit some level of thermochromism.

About n-tech:

n-tech Research is the rebrand of NanoMarkets.  The firm tracks and analyzes emerging markets in energy, electronics, durable goods, and other areas created by developments in smart materials. The firm is a recognized leader in industry analysis and forecasts in all of these areas.  Visit http://www.ntechresearch.com for a full listing of the firm’s reports and other services.

Contact:

Robert Nolan
n-tech Research
(804) 938-0030
rob@ntechresearch.com