Summary
Nanotechnologies for the Energy Market 2009, looks at whether nanotechnology has in fact had a huge impact on the energy sector. If so, in what way, and if not, why hasn't it?
Since the beginning of the century we have heard repeatedly about how nanotechnologies will have a huge impact on the field of energy, but the hype about the potential impact of nanotechnologies has not been matched by real solutions.
Our 2007 report dispelled the hype about how nanotechnology was going to make fuel cells for automobiles suddenly make sense and bring the price of solar energy generated electricity in line with that produced by fossil fuels. Instead it showed that greater energy efficiency through energy saving techniques such as better insulation and lighter vehicles was going to be the main impact area for nanotechnologies well into the foreseeable future.
But the period of between January 2007 when the first edition was released and today witnessed a great upheaval in the energy sector. We saw oil prices skyrocket above $150/bbl and then plummet back down to $45/bbl. On the trip up and then down, all sorts of economic pronouncements were made such as how the economics of alternative energies had finally become detached from oil pricing, and we saw the valuations of alternative energy companies go through the roof only to come crashing down again.
Now that the dust has settled, what have we learned and what impact will it all have on the dynamics between nanotechnologies and energy?
How will changes in the current political landscape both in the US and internationally impact nanotechnology's development in energy applications?
How has the freezing of credit markets affected the development of nanotechnologies for alternative energy sources for the near future
Where does hydrogen fuel cell technology stand now? And how will nanotechnology play a role?
What is happening with thin film organic solar cells? Will nanotechnologies ever make this technology price competitive without government subsidies?
What business model will work for a company trying to commercialize a nanotechnology in the energy sector?
These common sense questions are addressed in this new report as well as providing current market numbers and realistic projections over the next five years.
Compiling lists of all the nanotechnologies that could be used for energy applications and even cataloguing all the companies providing them only gives you a fraction of the picture. In the dynamics of the marketplace difficult-to-measure variables can change the entire picture and determine whether a technology will work or just add to the dustbin of failed technology ventures. This report looks at those variables, takes them into account and gives an assessment of nanotechnologies for the energy market.
Table of Contents
1 ENERGY AND THE PROMISE OF NANOTECHNOLOGIES 7
1.1 Summary of Nanotechnology Market Numbers 7
1.2 The History Of Nanotechnologies And Energy 12
1.2.1 Rick Smalley's Vision Of A Global Energy Network 13
1.2.2 The Unfulfilled Promise Of Thin Film Solar 15
1.2.2.1 Three Generations of Solar Power Technology 15
1.2.2.2 Three Different Business Strategies for Achieving the Third-Generation of Solar Power Technology 17
1.2.2.3 Nanosys 21
1.2.2.4 Nanosolar 22
1.2.3 Nanotechnologies Jumping On The Clean Tech Bandwagon? 23
1.2.3.1 As Clean Tech Became The Hot Topic Many Nanotechnologies Jumped Ship 24
1.2.3.2 Distinguishing Between Energy Applications & Clean Tech Hype 24
1.3 Drivers 24
1.3.1 Oil / Energy Prices 27
1.3.2 Political / Energy independence 27
1.3.3 Green/Sustainability 28
1.4 Funding 28
1.4.1 Are Returns Within VC Time Horizons? 29
1.4.2 Will Capital Continue To Be Available?-Impact Of Credit Crunch 33
1.5 Nanotechnology Related Hot Topics In Energy 35
1.5.1 Conventional Energy 35
1.5.2 Renewable Energy 35
1.5.3 Clean Energy 36
1.5.4 Alternative Energy 36
1.5.5 Sustainable Energy 37
1.5.6 Energy Efficiency 38
1.6 Value-Added Points of Nanotechnology in the Energy Value Chain 39
2 THE MARKETS 43
2.1 The Nano-Energy Landscape 43
2.1.1 By Application 46
2.1.1.1 Energy Saving 46
2.1.1.1.1 Lighter And Stronger Materials 49
2.1.1.1.2 Improved Combustion 55
2.1.1.1.2.1 Clean Coal 57
2.1.1.1.2.2 Fuel/oil Additives 58
2.1.1.1.3 Insulation and Building Materials 61
2.1.1.1.4 Lighting-LEDs and OLEDs 68
2.1.1.2 Energy Storage 72
2.1.1.2.1 Rechargeable Batteries 74
2.1.1.2.2 Hydrogen Storage-Fuel Cells 77
2.1.1.2.3 Supercapacitors 81
2.1.1.3 Energy Conversion/Production 86
2.1.1.3.1 Thermoelectricity/Waste Heat Recovery 86
2.1.1.3.2 Solar Thermal Energy 88
2.1.1.3.3 Geothermal Energy 90
2.1.1.3.4 Biomass 90
2.1.1.3.5 Bioenergetics 90
2.1.1.3.6 Hydrogen Conversion And Fuel Cells 91
2.1.1.3.7 Solar Photovoltaics (PV)-Solar Cells 101
2.1.1.3.7.1 Thin film based solar cells 105
2.1.1.3.7.1.1 CIGS Solar 110
2.1.1.3.7.1.2 Dye Sensitised Solar 115
2.1.1.3.7.2 Improved Solar Production and Processing Solutions 116
2.1.1.3.8 Solar Fuels 119
2.1.2 Overall Energy Markets By Application 120
2.2 By Technology 122
2.2.1 Total Market For Solid State Lighting Using Nanomaterials 122
2.2.2 Global Fuel Borne Catalyst Market 123
2.2.3 Value Of CNT Composites Used For Weight Reduction In Transport And Automotive Applications 123
2.3 Will the technologies be competitive with oil at 124
2.3.1 $100/barrel? 125
2.3.2 $30/barrel? 125
3 TIMELINES AND IMPACT ANALYSIS 126
3.1 By Application 126
3.1.1 Energy Saving 126
3.1.2 Energy Storage 127
3.1.3 Energy Conversion 127
Solar Cells 129
3.2 By Technology-When Will It Start And How Will It Grow? 129
3.2.1 Aerogels/Nanogels 129
3.2.2 Lighting-LEDs and OLEDs 130
3.2.3 Fuel Borne Catalysts 130
3.2.4 Nanocomposites materials 130
3.2.5 Thin Film Solar Cells/Organic thin film, or plastic solar cells-renewable photovoltaic energy 131
3.2.6 Fuel cells 131
3.2.7 Supercapacitors 131
4 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT 132
4.1 CO2/ Carbon Savings 132
4.1.1 Quantifying Emissions 132
4.1.2 Quantifying The Effect Of Nanotechnologies On Global Emissions 142
4.2 Toxicology 148
5 The Summary of Status and Impact of Technologies in Each Sector 148
5.1 Energy Saving 148
5.1.1 Lighter and stronger materials sector 148
5.1.1.1 Technologies 148
5.1.1.2 Key players 149
5.1.2 Improved Combustion 149
5.1.2.1 Technologies 149
Clean coal 149
5.1.2.2 Key players 149
Fuel/oil Additives 149
5.1.3 Insulation 150
5.1.3.1 Technologies 150
5.1.3.2 Key players 150
5.1.4 Lighting-LEDs and OLEDs 151
5.1.4.1 LED Technologies 151
5.1.4.2 OLEDs Technologies 151
5.1.4.3 Key Players 151
5.2 Energy Storage 151
5.2.1 Rechargeable Batteries 151
5.2.1.1 Technologies 151
5.2.1.2 Key Players 152
5.2.2 Hydrogen Storage-Fuel Cells 152
5.2.2.1 Technologies 152
5.2.2.2 Key players 152
5.2.3 Supercapacitors 152
5.2.3.1 Technologies 152
5.2.3.2 Key Players 152
5.3 Energy Conversion 153
5.3.1 Thermoelectricity/Waste Heat Recovery 153
5.3.1.1 Technologies 153
5.3.2 Solar Thermal Energy 153
5.3.2.1 Technologies 153
5.3.2.2 Key Players 153
5.3.3 Geothermal Energy 153
5.3.4 Biomass 153
5.3.5 Bioenergetics 153
5.3.6 Hydrogen Conversion and fuel cells 153
5.3.6.1 Technologies 153
5.3.6.2 Key Players 154
5.3.7 Solar Photovoltaics (PV)-Solar Cells 155
5.3.7.1 Technologies 155
5.3.8 Thin film technologies 155
5.3.8.1 Technologies 155
5.3.8.2 Key Players 155
5.3.9 CIGS solar 156
5.3.9.1 Technologies 156
5.3.9.2 Key Players 157
5.3.10 Dye Sensitised Solar 157
5.3.10.1 Technologies 157
5.3.10.2 Key Players 157
5.3.11 Improved Solar Production and Processing Solutions 158
5.3.11.1 Key players 158
5.3.12 Solar Fuels 159
5.3.12.1 Technologies 159
6 Automotive Industry 159
6.1 Automotive Applications 159
6.2 Challenges 160
6.3 Key Players 161
