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Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION

NANOTECHNOLOGY IN ENERGY APPLICATIONS

NAN044BFebruary 2013

Andrew McWilliamsProject Analyst

ISBN: 1-56965-024-1

BCC Research49 Walnut Park, Building 2Wellesley, MA 02481866-285-7215, 781-489-7301www.bccresearch.comCustom Reports:[email protected]

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NAN044B - Nanotechnology in Energy Applications

Copyright BCC Research, Wellesley MA USA, Website: www.bccresearch.com 1

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

STUDY BACKGROUND

Nanotechnology is increasingly impacting the U.S. and world energy balance, both on the

supply and demand sides. On the supply side, nanotechnology is being used to optimize

production from existing energy sources (e.g., crude petroleum) and to exploit new

sources such as heavy oil, liquefied coal and solar energy (including using solar energy to

produce hydrogen). Nanotechnology is also improving and opening new possibilities for

the transmission and storage of energy, especially electricity and possibly hydrogen in the

future.

On the supply side, nanotechnologies have the potential to reduce energy consumption by

making it possible to manufacture lighter and/or more energy-efficient cards and

appliances. Nanotechnologies can also be used to improve energy efficiency in buildings.

STUDY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

This report is an updated edition of a BCC report first published in 2007, whose goal is to

identify and quantify the market for nanoscale materials and devices that are used to

generate or conserve energy. Specific objectives include the following:

Identifying nanoscale materials and devices that currently are or in theq

future could be used in energy production or conservation applications.Analyzing and predicting trends in the most likely application(s) for each ofq

these materials and devices.

Projecting the resulting market for specific nanoscale materials and devices.q

Estimating the potential net impact of nanoscale materials and devices onq

the global energy balance.

Drawing attention to manufacturers of renewable energy systems andq

associated advanced materials and devices that are most likely to benefit

from the trends identified above.

INTENDED AUDIENCE

This report is a business opportunity report intended especially for developers and vendors

of nanoscale materials and devices that target the energy systems market. It should also

be useful to vendors of energy systems interested in understanding where the market is

headed with respect to nanoscale enabling technologies.

Other readers who will find the reports findings and conclusions informative include:

Investors.q

Members of the energy trade, professionals and advocacy organizations.qThe general nanotechnology interest community.q

Officials of government agencies and multinational organizations concernedq

with energy developments and nanotechnology.

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While the report is oriented to the interests and concerns of a non-technical audience, it

contains a great deal of technical information that should also be of interest to scientists

and engineers working in the nanotechnology and energy fields.

SCOPE AND FORMAT

The report focuses on the global market for nanoscale materials (e.g., nanopowders,

nanocomposites, nanoscale thin films and others) and devices (e.g., nanosensors) used in

the following types of energy applications:

Renewable and non-renewable energy production (e.g., petroleum refining,q

solar energy).

Energy transmission, conversion and storage (e.g., transmission systems,q

transformers, batteries and fuel cells).

Energy end uses (motor vehicles, building HVAC systems, manufacturing).q

The report concentrates on nanotechnology applications that are currently in commercial

use or are likely to be commercialized by 2017. Other applications that, while promising,

are not likely to make it out of the laboratory by 2017, are not covered in-depth.

The report does not cover nanoscale materials and devices used to monitor and/or control

the environmental impacts of energy production, or use such as nanomaterials used in

automotive catalytic converters. These technologies are outside the scope of this study

and are covered in detail in several other BCC Research reports such as reports NAN039A

Nanotechnology in Environmental Applications and NAN035A Nanosensors.

The report also does not cover nanomaterials that may have an indirect impact on energy

consumption (e.g., by decreasing weight or resistance). Readers interested in such

materials may wish to consult BCC Report EGY051A Petroleum Fuel Optimization

Technologies.

The report format includes the following major elements:

Executive summary.q

Description of nanomaterials and nanodevices used in energy applications,q

including properties and fabrication methods.

Overall market size, segmentation and growth trends.q

Major energy applications of nanoscale materials and devices.q

Description.q

Types of nanomaterials/nanodevices used.q

Principal developers/manufacturers.q

Patents.q

Consumption of nanomaterials and nanodevices, 20112017.q

INFORMATION SOURCES AND METHODOLOGY

The findings and conclusions of this report are based on information gathered from

developers and manufacturers of nanoscale materials and devices and the energy

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systems in which they are used, as well as concerned governmental, industry and

professional organizations. Interview data were combined with information gathered

through an extensive review of secondary sources such as trade publications, trade

associations, company literature and online databases to produce the baseline market

estimates contained in this report.

The methodologies and assumptions used to develop the market projections in this report

are discussed at length under the various types of nano-energy applications. The report

carefully documents data sources and assumptions. This way, readers can see how the

market estimates were developed and, if they so desire, test the impact on the final

numbers of changing assumptions such as price.

ANALYST CREDENTIALS

Andrew McWilliams, the author of this report, is a partner in the Boston-based

international technology and marketing consulting firm, 43rd Parallel LLC. He is the author

of numerous other BCC Research technology market research reports, including the earlier

(2007) edition of this report, as well as several other reports in the areas of

nanotechnology and energy such as EGY053C Advanced Materials and Devices for

Renewable Energy Systems: Global Markets, EGY051A Petroleum Fuel Optimization

Technologies, CHM020D Catalysts for Environmental and Energy Applications, NAN040A

Nanomaterials Markets by Type, EGY055B Building the Global Hydrogen Economy:

Technologies and Opportunities, AVM066C Superconductors: Technologies and Global

Markets and NAN031E Nanotechnology: A Realistic Market Assessment.

RELATED BCC RESEARCH REPORTS

BCC Research has been tracking new developments in energy and nanotechnology for

more than a decade. BCC publications that may be of interest to readers of this report

include the following:

EGY053CAdvanced Materials and Devices for Renewable Energy Systems.q

EGY044AAlternative Transportation Fuels.q

EGY051A Petroleum Fuel Optimization Technologies.q

EGY014H Global Markets and Technologies for Photovoltaic Systems.q

EGY049B Global Markets for Renewable Energy.q

EGY033D World Markets for Bulk Photovoltaic Installation.q

EGY033A Renewable Bulk Power Sources: World Markets for Large Windq

Turbines.

FCB007M Fuel Cell Industry Review 2011.q

EGY001G Energy Optimization Industry Review.q

FCB035C Materials for Proton Exchange Membranes and Membraneq

Electrode Assemblies for PEM Fuel Cells.

FCB024E Large and Advanced Battery Technology and Markets.q

FCB028E Lithium Batteries: Markets and Materials.q

FCB035D Materials for Proton Exchange Membranes and Membraneq

Electrode Assemblies for PEM Fuel Cells.

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NAN021E Global Markets for Nanocomposites, Nanoparticles, Nanoclays andq

Nanotubes.

NAN031E Nanotechnology: A Realistic Market Assessment.q

NAN040A Nanomaterials Markets by Type.q

NAN036B Nanotechnology for Photonics: Global Markets.q

NAN033A Nanomagnetics: Materials, Devices and Markets.q

NAN035A Nanosensors.q

NAN028A Nanocatalysts.q

MST028D The Global Market for Membrane Microfiltration.q

MST041F Membrane Technology for Liquid and Gas Separations.q

BCC ON-LINE SERVICES

BCC Research offers an online information retrieval service. Its home page, located at

www.bccresearch.com, enables readers to:

Examine the complete BCC Research catalog of market research reports andq

place direct orders.

Subscribe to any of BCC Researchs many industry newsletters.q

Read announcements of recently published reports and newly launchedq

newsletters.

Register for its well-known conferences.q

Request additional information on any BCC research product.q

Take advantage of special offers.q

DISCLAIMER

The information presented in this report is intended to be as reliable as possible at the

time of its publication and of a professional nature. This information does not constitute

managerial, legal or accounting advice, nor should it serve as a corporate policy guide,

laboratory manual or an endorsement of any product, as much of the information is

speculative in nature. The author assumes no responsibility for any loss or damage that

might result from reliance on the reported information or from its use.

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