NEWS RELEASE                                                                                        JANUARY 2017

Remote Support is a $1.6 Billion Potential Business for Precipitator Product and Service Companies

The supply of services and parts is a potential $1.6 billion /yr. business for suppliers of electrostatic precipitator systems, components, remote monitoring software, advisory and maintenance services.  This is the recent finding in N018 Electrostatic Precipitator World Marketpublished by the McIlvaine Company.

  Metric 2017 2021
Utility Precipitators Installed GW 2200 2440
Utility Air Flow cfm (m3/h) millions 6600 (11,000) 7320 (12,200)
Industrial Precip Air Flow cfm (m3/h) millions 660 (1,100) 732 (1,220)
Total Air Flow cfm (m3/h) millions 7260 (12,100) 8052 (13,220)
O&M Cost ($0.60/cfm) $ millions 4,356 4,931
Third Party Potential Revenues ($0.20/cfm) $ millions 1,452 1,610

Third party potential revenues are 20 cents/cfm.  This creates a potential market next year of $1.4 billion rising by $200 million in 2021 to $1.6 billion.  Included in this total are the following:

  • Remote monitoring 24/7 of precipitator performance
  • Advisory or direct intervention to adjust operating parameters
  • Training of operators
  • Expert advice monthly or more often if warranted
  • Supply of parts for the precipitators, dust conveying and energy management
  • Other service

This opportunity is already being pursued by several types of organizations:

  • Boiler system companies (Alstom, Doosan, Mitsubishi)
  • Precipitator suppliers (FLSmidth, Longking, Feida)
  • Parts suppliers (B&W has both the boilers and parts)
  • Integral Component suppliers (NWL has remote systems focused on the energy management)
  • Auxiliary component suppliers (valves, fans)
  • Service companies (Neuendorfer)
  • Specialized consulting (TRK provides 24/7 monitoring and emergency advice along with monthly reports and meetings)
  • General consulting companies (Sargent & Lundy, Burns & McDonnell)
  • Continuous emissions monitoring system providers (Thermo Fisher, Sick)
  • Software suppliers (GE, Wind River, OSI Soft)
  • Digital processing hardware (ABB, Yokogawa)

The acceleration in interest and investment in the Internet of things (IoT) coupled with increasing complexity of precipitator operations make third party services increasingly attractive. Many of the precipitators now being installed are in Asian and African countries where precipitator knowledge is lacking.  TRK has demonstrated the value in making instant expertise available.  Subject matter experts abound in the U.S. where the number of precipitators in operation is shrinking.  This talent can be applied to help operators thousands of miles away thanks to the increasingly sophisticated digital communications.

Remote services for precipitators have been in development for 30 years.  Services for other power plant components can be developed based on the precipitator experience.  This provides the opportunity to expand into third party services for the entire power plant.  McIlvaine projects this potential at $125 billion/yr. for third party services for the full range of power plants including nuclear, fossil and renewable.

For more information click on:  N018 Electrostatic Precipitator World Market