Supercapacitors: Technology Developments and Global Markets

Report Highlights

The global market for supercapacitors is estimated at $470 million in 2010. Demand for supercapacitors is projected to continue growing at a very healthy rate during the next 5 years, reaching a value of $1.2 billion in 2015, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.6%.

Report Scope

This study provides an updated review of supercapacitor technology, including materials and production processes, and identifies current and emerging applications for this technology.

BCC Research determines the current market status of supercapacitors, defines trends, and presents forecasts of growth over the next 5 years. Technological issues, including the latest process developments, are also discussed.

BCC Research analyzes the supercapacitor industry on a worldwide basis from the standpoint of both manufacturing and consumption. In addition, the study examines commercial and public research activities in major regions of the world. Research objectives and areas of interest related to materials, production methods, and applications of supercapacitors are also outlined.

More specifically, BCC’s market analysis is divided into five parts.

In the first part, a historical review of supercapacitors is provided, including an outline of recent events. In addition, the report supplies a detailed description of EDLC types and their fabrication processes. In this section, current and emerging applications for these products are also identified and divided by sector (i.e., electronics, energy, transportation, medical, and sensors and instrumentation).

The second part of the report entails a global market analysis of EDLCs. Current technical issues are described, followed by a review of related, recent technological developments and patent abstracts. Global revenues (sales data in millions of dollars) are presented by supercapacitor type, application, and region, with actual data for the years 2008 and 2009 and estimated data for the year 2010.

This section concludes with a presentation of market growth trends based on industry growth, technological trends, and regional trends. Projected revenues are reported, with forecast compound annual growth rates (CAGR) for the period 2010 through 2015.

In the third part, covering global industry structure, the report provides a complete list of suppliers of supercapacitors and a description of their products. The analysis includes a description of the geographical distribution of these firms and an evaluation of production versus consumption, always from a geographical standpoint. Detailed company profiles of the top industry players are also provided.

In the fourth part of this study, an analysis of industry competitiveness is performed. This analysis encompasses a review of global research and development activities, with profiles of the most important R&D players by region, and an outline of the most critical factors contributing to industry competitiveness.

The fifth and final section includes an extensive U.S. patent analysis, with a summary of patents related to supercapacitor types, fabrication methods, and applications issued during the period 2007 through 2010. Patent analysis is performed by region, country, assignee, patent category, application, and EDLC type.

Analyst Credentials

Margareth Gagliardi, BCC’s chief research analyst in advanced materials, has more than 25 years of experience in the field of advanced materials, specializing in ceramic formulations, materials processing, and new product development. She has held management positions in both manufacturing and R&D within U.S. and European firms producing electronic, mechanical, chemical, and structural components. She holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and an M.S. in Ceramic Engineering.

Ms. Gagliardi has authored numerous BCC Research studies, including the following that are related to advanced materials and electronics:

• NAN043B − Nanofibers: Technologies and Developing Markets, 2010
• AVM069A − Photocatalysts: Technologies and Global Markets, 2010
• SMC061B − Atomic Layer Deposition, 2010
• AVM046B − Thick Film Devices, Processes and Applications, 2010
• AVM052B − Aerogels, 2009
• AVM065A − Smart Glass: Technologies and Global Markets, 2009 
• SMC037D − Sputtering Targets and Sputtered Films: Technology and Markets, 2008
• NAN043A − Nanofibers: Technologies and Developing Markets, 2007
• NAN042A − Nanorobotics and NEMS, 2007
• AVM052A − Aerogels, 2006
• SMC061A − Atomic Layer Deposition, 2006
• SMC037C −Sputtering Targets and Sputtered Films: Technology and Markets, 2005
• SMC057A − Thin Films: Raw Materials, Technology and Applications, 2005
• AVM046A − Thick Film Devices, Processes and Applications, 2004