Technological advances in wireless power charging and transmission have shown great promise for enabling plug-free and, in many cases, contactless charging for a wide variety of devices and machinery. From simple inductive charging mechanisms that require a direct point of contact between charger (transmitter) and device (receiver), wireless power systems have evolved to the point of promising the ability to transmit dozens of watts over dozens of kilometers. According to a new report from Pike Research, the wireless power market will reach an inflection point when it crosses the $1 billion revenue mark in 2012, and by 2020 wireless power system revenues will exceed $11.8 billion worldwide.

"Applications for wireless power are diverse, ranging from mobile phones to electric vehicles to unmanned aircraft," says Pike Research president Clint Wheelock. "And in the future, wireless transmission will have the capability of sending large amounts of power to remote locations."

Wheelock adds that the industry taking shape around wireless power includes major manufacturers like General Motors and General Electric, as well as startups such as WiTricity, Pure Energy Solutions, and Powermat. However, at the moment there are no clear leaders in terms of technologies or companies, no industry-wide specifications or standards for interoperability, and little agreement about the size of the market opportunity and the most promising areas for investment.

Based on extensive primary research and market analysis, Pike Research forecasts that the two largest application categories for wireless power will be consumer electronics and industrial applications, the latter of which includes sensor networking and wireless slip rings for machinery that uses robotic arms and/or rotating joints, such as automated assembly and processing facilities and wind turbines. Other promising, albeit smaller, segments include electric vehicle charging, military applications, and mobile computing and communications devices.

Pike Research's report, "Wireless Power", analyzes the global market opportunity for wireless power charging and transmission systems. The study examines the applications for which wireless power shows the most promise; reviews the remaining technological hurdles to effective, efficient wireless power charging and transmission; outlines the market challenges to be overcome; spotlights the main players in the industry; and provides market forecasts for revenue, by application and by region, during the period from 2010 to 2020. An Executive Summary of the report is available for free download on the firm's website.

Pike Research is a market research and consulting firm that provides in-depth analysis of global clean technology markets. The company's research methodology combines supply-side industry analysis, end-user primary research and demand assessment, and deep examination of technology trends to provide a comprehensive view of the Smart Energy, Clean Transportation, Clean Industry, and Building Efficiency sectors.

source: Pike Research