Global AC Drives Market Size and Share Outlook - Forecast Trends and Growth Analysis Report (2024-2032)

AC Drives Market Overview

The rising demand for energy-efficient solutions is driving the market growth. The low energy consumption of AC drives and its low production cost are resulting in its increased adoption in various end-use sectors. The growth can also be attributed to rapid technological developments and favourable government initiatives. Factors like less maintenance, increasing demand for motor applications, and ease of use are also boosting the growth of the AC drives market across the globe.

Furthermore, increased infrastructure investments and rapid urbanisation and industrialisation are also helping to escalate AC drive sales worldwide, as infrastructure development across sectors such as water and wastewater treatment, power generation, transportation, and building automation demands advanced motor control solutions.

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AC Drives Market Trends

Energy-Saving Applications of AC Drives

AC drives greatly improve energy efficiency in various industrial settings, cutting down operational costs and environmental footprint, thus appealing to industries aiming for energy optimisation. The U.S. allocates USD 17.9 billion to clean energy, USD 16.4 billion to resilience projects, and USD 12.4 billion to safety improvements, promoting sustainability, infrastructure fortification, and public health. This reflects a comprehensive strategy for balanced development and resilience across sectors enhancing the growth of the AC drives industry.

Moreover, according to the International Trade Administration, the municipal wastewater treatment market in China is nearing saturation, with 98.1% of municipal wastewater being treated as of 2021. Rural areas lag significantly, with only 28% of wastewater receiving treatment. To address this disparity and improve overall infrastructure, China has committed to constructing or renovating 80,000 kilometres of sewage collection pipeline networks in the coming years. This is boosting the demand for AC drives that allow the pumps and blowers in the sewage network to work at variable speeds and save energy costs.

Integration of IoT and Smart Technologies

AC drives market dynamics and trends are driven by ongoing innovations in AC drive technology, including IoT integration and advanced control algorithms, boost performance, reliability, and user-friendliness. The rise in industrial automation and smart manufacturing presents significant growth opportunities for the market as end-use sectors aim to enhance efficiency and productivity.

As per the industry reports, around 16.7 billion devices, including IoT-enabled AC drives, across the world were IoT-based in 2023, which is expected to increase to 25.44 billion by 2030. The IoT-enabled AC drives can offer real-time data on motor performance, temperature and vibration, among other parameters. These devices can also send real-time alerts to the operators if they detect any failure and downtime, which may affect productivity.  For instance, HVAC operators can use this information from IoT-enabled drives and adjust the motor speed based on the building occupancy to reduce risk of failure due to overload.

Industry News

July 2024

AutomationDirect announced the launch of the new AC drives, line reactors, and VFD output filters, among others, to expand its product line.

October 2023

Sprint Electric announced the launch of a new AC regeneration drive, known as the Generis AC drive, at the SPS 2023 exhibition, which offers highly reliable AC motor control.

Opportunities in AC Drives Market

The growing adoption of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power requires efficient energy conversion and management, boosting the demand for advanced AC drives. As per the International Energy Agency, wind power generated more than 2,100 TWh in 2022, making it the leading non-hydro renewable energy source across the world, out of which China was responsible for around half of the generated energy, enhancing the AC drives market revenue.

In 2022, solar PV generated around 270 TWh of power, which was a 26% increase compared to 2021. Solar power also accounted for around 4.5% of the world’s electricity generation in 2022 and is on track with the 2030 milestones under the Net Zero Scenario. This has boosted the demand for specialised AC drives that control the rotation speed of the blades in wind turbines as well as solar water pumping systems, which can optimise energy usage.

AC Drives Market Restraints

The high initial costs for acquiring and installing AC drives can deter adoption, particularly among small and medium-sized businesses.  Integrating AC drives with existing systems can be complicated and time-consuming, needing skilled personnel and potentially increasing the operational expenses of the companies. Regular maintenance and technical support are essential for AC drives to perform optimally, which can further raise operational costs and lead to downtime if not managed well, affecting the AC drives market value.

Moreover, global economic instability and shifts in industrial production can impact investments in new technologies, potentially slowing AC-drive adoption. This is further affected by intense competition among many players and can lead to price wars and reduced profit margins, affecting financial stability. Stringent and evolving regulations on energy efficiency and environmental impact can further pose challenges for manufacturers, requiring ongoing compliance and potentially raising costs.

Market Dynamics

There is a rising demand for built-in safety features in AC drives. For instance, the Safe Torque Off feature allows the AC drive to stop the motor without shutting off the entire power supply, which is the safest response to emergency situations. This feature is specifically useful in the manufacturing and processing sectors which require constant power supply and can boost the demand of AC drives market.

Safe Brake Control (SBC) is another crucial feature which can safely stop motors during system faults. This feature is gaining prominence in conveyors and cranes which may require rapid deceleration during case of emergency.  Between 2011 and 2017, the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) reported 297 crane-related deaths, which may have been prevented with a safety feature on the crane.  Moreover, companies like Allen-Bradley and GE are readily investing in AC drives with enhanced operational safety and resilience features that can be crucial in the manufacturing and packaging sectors.

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Global AC Drives Industry Segmentation

“Global AC Drives Market Report and Forecast 2024-2032” offers a detailed analysis of the market based on the following segments:

Market Breakup by Voltage

• Medium Voltage
• High Voltage

Market Breakup by Power Rating

• Low Power Drives (<40 kW) 
• Medium Power Drives (41 kW - 200 kW)
• High Power Drives (>200 kW)

Market Breakup by Application

• Compressor
• Conveyors
• Fans
• Extruders
• Pumps
• Others

Market Breakup by End Use

• Water and Wastewater
• Oil and Gas
• Power
• Chemical
• Metal Processing
• HVAC
• Others  

Market Breakup by Region

• North America
• Europe
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East and Africa

AC Drives Market Share

By Voltage Insights

Based on voltage, the low voltage segment drives the AC drives demand and is anticipated to maintain its dominance in the forecast period as well. This can be attributed to the inexpensive nature of low-voltage AC drives and their ability to operate in low and high-power applications. Governments and international bodies have been tightening regulations around energy consumption and efficiency and low-voltage AC drives help businesses comply with these regulations by reducing energy usage and carbon emissions, making them a go-to solution for companies aiming to meet environmental standards.

By Power Rating Insights

The low power drives (<40 kW) account for a significant AC drives market share due to their growing applications across various end-use sectors such as food processing, and medical, among others. These drives can be implemented in metal processing machines, food processing machines, fans, pumps, and healthcare instruments, among others. Major companies such as Siemens and Fuji Electric, among others, are offering low power drives which can enhance the segment growth.

By Application Insights

The pump segment is expected to gain prominence in the market due to the growing use of AC drives in pumps in end-use sectors such as chemical, energy, mining and oil and gas, among others.  AC drives can reduce energy consumption by 20 to 50%, which can be crucial in industries which aim to achieve sustainability goals and boost AC drives demand growth. AC drives also offer smooth control of processes in several manufacturing applications, which is further boosting the demand for pumps.

By End Use Insights

The power sector holds a major share in the market due to its extensive requirements for efficient, reliable, and precise control of electric motors used throughout various power generation, transmission, and distribution processes. AC drives play a crucial role in enhancing energy efficiency within power plants and throughout the distribution network. By allowing the precise control of motor speed and torque, AC drives reduce the energy consumption of pumps, fans, compressors, and other motor-driven equipment, leading to significant energy savings and reduced operational costs, boosting the market growth.

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AC Drives Market Regional Analysis

North America AC Drives Market Dynamics

The U.S. Department of Treasury in 2023 indicates that the largest allocation in the BIL Announced Projects is for roads, bridges, and major projects, receiving USD 174.7 billion, emphasising the priority on improving critical infrastructure. Broadband follows with a substantial USD 46.5 billion investment, reflecting the importance of expanding internet access. As per the AC drives industry analysis, public transportation projects receive USD 34.1 billion, underscoring efforts to enhance urban mobility. Water infrastructure is allocated USD 22.8 billion, indicating a focus on addressing water quality and supply issues.

Asia Pacific AC Drives Market Growth

AC drives have a wide range of uses across end-use sectors such as manufacturing, HVAC, water treatment, and transportation, ensuring consistent and rising AC drives market revenue. Rapid industrialisation and urbanisation in emerging markets offer substantial market opportunities, with increasing investments in infrastructure and industrial projects. For instance, the Rural Industrial Technology (Spark) Project in China aims to improve the technology standards in rural areas of the country.  It also includes the modernisation of enterprises in rural industries as well as offering high-end equipment and technologies, including advanced AC drives that find growing applications in various industries.

Europe AC Drives Market Trends

The stringent energy efficiency regulations and the European Union's ambitious objectives to lower carbon emissions are two of the major factors boosting AC drives market opportunities in the region.  Under the European Green Deal, the EU aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 through its various policies and measures. For instance, it is allocating funds such as the Just Transition Mechanism and the European Green Deal Investment Plan to shift towards a low-carbon economy, which can support the equipment and technologies, including advanced AC drives for energy efficiency, that are crucial for a green economy.

Latin America AC Drives Market Outlook

In Latin America, the adoption of AC drives is on the rise, driven by the growth of the industrial and manufacturing sectors in countries such as Brazil and Mexico. Companies are increasingly seeking energy-efficient solutions to reduce operating costs and aid AC drives market expansion. This regional expansion is further bolstered by a rise in foreign investments focused on modernising infrastructure, which necessitates the deployment of advanced automation technologies such as AC drives. Moreover, Latin American countries are allocating resources towards water and wastewater management systems, which often incorporate AC drives for effective pump control.

Middle East and Africa AC Drives Market Drivers

The market growth in the region is driven by the increased adoption of AC drives in the oil and gas sector. Around 95% of the energy generated in the Middle East region comes from oil and gas reserves, which is increasing the opportunities for the use of AC drives in the oil and gas sector.

Additionally, the growing focus on renewable energy projects in the AC drives market in this region, especially solar energy, has boosted the demand for AC drives that support grid integration and energy storage systems. The advancement of infrastructure initiatives across Africa, aimed at addressing urbanisation challenges, further promotes market growth.

Innovative AC Drives Startups

Startups are investing in AC drive technology which allows accurate control of motor speeds that can lead to reduced energy usage in end-use sectors such as manufacturing, water treatment, and HVAC, among others. These firms are relying on high-end power electronics to develop drives that use less energy than conventional systems, in line with regulatory requirements for energy efficiency and reduced carbon emissions.

Invertek Drives

This UK-based startup in the AC drives industry specialises in manufacturing energy-efficient variable frequency drives (VFDs) for controlling AC motors in various industrial applications. Invertek's products are known for their compact design and ease of integration. The company has also been readily investing in IoT compatibility, allowing for remote monitoring and control.

Shenzhen V&T Technologies Co., Ltd.

Shenzhen V&T Technologies, based in China, offers innovative AC drive solutions that include high-end features for remote diagnostics and predictive maintenance. The company offers compact drives with multi-axis capabilities, serving end-use sectors such as automotive manufacturing, textile production, and logistics, among others. The company stands out for its integration of data analytics in its drives, which enables real-time performance monitoring to enhance efficiency and reduce downtime.

Competitive Landscape

The companies are readily emphasising innovation, digitalisation, AI-driven analytics, and energy efficiency. They drive market growth through research and development investments, strategic expansions, and eco-friendly practices, shaping industrial automation's future. Several companies leverage high-performance AC drives for critical industrial processes and are readily offering localised production and service hubs. Some major AC drives industry players are also investing in robotics, power, automation, and electrification to excel in technological innovation, sustainability, and improving energy efficiency across multiple industries.

Key Industry Players

ABB Ltd

The company focuses on innovation, enhancing AC drive efficiency and reliability, and further emphasises digitalisation with advanced control and monitoring systems. Sustainability is also a priority in the company as it offers eco-friendly drive solutions.

Siemens AG

Siemens is offering AC drive technology for industrial applications and is also investing heavily in research and development for energy-efficient drive solutions to increase market opportunities. The company integrates IoT and AI for predictive maintenance and optimisation.

Rockwell Automation, Inc.

Rockwell Automation specialises in integrated AC drive systems for automation and is also innovating in scalable solutions tailored to diverse industrial needs. The company further focuses on cybersecurity in drive systems to ensure data protection.

Other major players in the AC drives market are Hitachi, Ltd., and Fuji Electric Co. Ltd, among others.

Recent Developments

June 2023

OMRON, an industrial automation provider, announced the launch of the OMRON M1 Integrated Global AC Drives Solution, which offers superior advanced system integration capabilities.

May 2023

ABB India announced that it is expanding its production facility in Bengaluru with a new line for variable speed drive modules between the range of 75 kW and 250 kW.

AC Drives Market Report Snapshots

AC Drives Market Size

AC Drives Market Growth

AC Drives Market Analysis

AC Drives Market Share

AC Drives Companies