Environmental Factors and Low Cost Propel the European Flywheel UPS Market Forward

Business Wire, Sept 29, 2008

LONDON -- Amid growing concerns over the preservation of the environment, the quest for energy efficient and greener technologies is intensifying in Europe, especially after the signing of the Kyoto Protocol. Green initiatives have encouraged the gravitation towards environmentally friendly technologies such as flywheel UPS systems. The European Commission energy efficiency action plan has also helped drive the uptake of flywheel UPS systems.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan (http://www.powersupplies.frost.com), European Flywheel UPS Markets, finds that market earned revenues of over [euro]25.4 million in 2007 and estimates this to reach [euro]58 million in 2014.

"Although the technology has been in existence for a long time, it has seen widespread acceptance and increased uptake only over the past three or four years," says Frost & Sullivan programme manager Malavika Tohani. "Flywheel UPS systems use kinetic energy, eliminating harmful emissions and disposal issues and reducing the impact on the environment."

Data centres represent the largest end-user segment for flywheel UPS systems, followed by the industrial segment. However, other sectors such as airports, shopping malls, hospitals and commercial applications are expected to step up the pace of adoption of flywheel technology.

"The total cost of ownership (TCO) for a flywheel UPS is less than that of the battery-based UPS, primarily because of the lower operational costs," notes Tohani. "Moreover, this technology is energy efficient and space saving since it does not require huge storage space for batteries or cooling systems that are a part of conventional UPS systems."

The benefits of this technology have remained unnoticed and under publicised, and it is this inadequate exposure that is proving to be a handicap. Data centre customers, for the most part are unaware of the economic viability of this technology, but understand its value from the standpoint of environmental conservation.

Power outages and load fluctuations can prove costly in mission-critical environments and the importance of ride-through capability is increasing. While the short backup time of the flywheel UPS prevents widespread use, this technology offers undeniable benefits including long life, low maintenance and total cost of ownership (TCO), and low storage space requirements besides being eco-friendly.

Dramatically raising awareness levels will support rapid market growth. Manufacturers must actively participate in conferences, trade shows and seminars to enable better exposure for flywheel technology. Besides, effective interaction with contractors, consultants and training agents are necessary to engender more productive business outcomes.

Nonetheless, ongoing efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and prevent climate change have triggered interest in alternative energy storage technologies. As awareness spreads and manufacturers ramp up R&D efforts, flywheel systems are bound to gain ground in the UPS space.

If you are interested in a virtual brochure, which provides manufacturers, end users, and other industry participants with an overview of the European flywheel UPS markets, then send an e-mail to Chiara Carella, Corporate Communications, at chiara.carella@frost.com, with your full name, company name, title, telephone number, company e-mail address, company website, city, state and country. Upon receipt of the above information, an overview will be sent to you by e-mail.

European Flywheel UPS Markets is part of the Power Supplies and Batteries Growth Partnership Service program, which also includes research in the following markets: European rotary UPS markets, world flywheel UPS markets and European inverter markets for renewable energy systems. All research services included in subscriptions provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends that have been evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants. Interviews with the press are available.

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, partners with clients to accelerate their growth. The company's TEAM Research, Growth Consulting and Growth Team Membership[TM] empower clients to create a growth-focused culture that generates, evaluates and implements effective growth strategies. Frost & Sullivan employs over 45 years of experience in partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses and the investment community from more than 30 offices on six continents. For more information about Frost & Sullivan's Growth Partnerships, visit http://www.frost.com.

European Flywheel UPS Markets

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