Increasing demand: Energy use fueling need for planetary gears

Wellingborough, UK—Expect significant growth in the market for planetary gearboxes in the Americas and EMEA (Europe, the Middle-East, and Africa) over the next several years, a recent study from IMS Research shows. By 2009, these areas are expected to experience 8% growth rates, with the markets reaching $1.8 billion and half a billion dollars respectively.

Primary driver of this growth is rising demand in the wind energy sector for high torque planetary gearboxes used in wind turbines. The increase is the direct result of growing investment in this sector as high oil prices and concern about global warming influence the use of wind as an alternative energy source.

Wind energy is a significant portion of the energy sector, which accounted for more than 40% of the total EMEA planetary gearbox market and more than a quarter of the Americans market in 2005. EMEA has been building up a large installed wind turbine capacity steadily over 20 years. Comparable levels of investment have occurred more recently in the Americas, prompted by increasing oil demand and rising energy costs.

IMS market analyst Rob Carter said, “continued financial incentives provided by the 2001 EU Directive on the promotion of electricity from renewable energy sources for Europe, and America’s wind energy production tax credit, will encourage further investment in the wind energy sector over the next few years as these regions strive to meet green energy targets. This is expected to result in the high-torque planetary gearbox market growing annually by around 10% in both regions.”

—Control EngineeringDaily News Desk
Jeanine Katzel, senior editor

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