Power Electronics for Rail Applications

• Publication date: December 2012

A Power Electronics market that will be multiplied by 1.7, reaching $4.5 billion by 2020 Rail traction can be segmented into three main sub-applications: urban vehicles (trams and metros), regional and commuters (mostly Electrical Multiple Units, or “EMUs”) and high-speed trains (Power cars and EMUs). With a total market size of 4,000 units in 2012 and more than 6,000 expected in 2020, the railway industry is without question an att...

A Power Electronics market that will be multiplied by 1.7, reaching $4.5 billion by 2020
Rail traction can be segmented into three main sub-applications: urban vehicles (trams and metros), regional and commuters (mostly Electrical Multiple Units, or “EMUs”) and high-speed trains (Power cars and EMUs). With a total market size of 4,000 units in 2012 and more than 6,000 expected in 2020, the railway industry is without question an attractive one!

Of course, the rail industry means steady, not rapid growth, for two main reasons: long-term system manufacturing and government-related business. On the upside, the rail industry is safe and encourages innovation.

Moreover, emerging regions such as South America, Africa/Middle East and Southeast Asia are demanding more and more in terms of public transportation.
The Related Inverters market for public transportation is today estimated at $3 billion, and is expected to reach $4.5 billion by 2020. In this new report Yole shows how and why rail is dynamic, with the main reasons being commuter trains and related EMU architecture, which multiply the number of inverters and thus the number of applications for Power Electronics.

As a consequence, the Power Electronics market represents an excellent opportunity for revenue generation in high-end systems, both in terms of semiconductor-based components and passive ones. Indeed, with an estimated price of $13,000 for power modules in urban vehicles and $135,000 in high-speed trains, we estimate a total market size of more than $200 million for power modules and almost $300 million for all passives (capacitors, resistors, inductors, connectors, busbars and transformers) in 2012.



The rail industry’s expected technological developments will occur at every level:
Even if the rail industry has a slow ramp-up, the major players are competitive companies often involved in other utility-sized businesses.
Therefore, the rail industry both suggests and benefits from major developments, especially in Power Electronics.
We do not forecast strong evolution from a passive components perspective; however, we definitely believe that a semiconductor revolution will have its place in trains, trams and metros.


We will see evolution from a systems point-of-view:
• Trains are evolving; we expect to see rolling systems with 10kV power electronics components inside
• Train architecture is changing; electrification is key and more inverters are required. This means more power electronics
• At the inverter level, key components can be assembled to create an important value, i.e. “Here comes the PowerStack”: Yole provides a complete analysis of PowerStack evolution and how it will be a versatile subsystem, good for wind turbines and a perfect fit with the rail industry’s key requirements. In particular, sub-system and passive components (plus passive component players) will garner high interest.
• Lastly, at the device level and especially at the material level: SiC is on every main player’s production roadmap and will be essential as soon as 1.7kV MOSFETs are available. Trains are an interesting playground for such developments, because even if SiC remains expensive, a system as big as a train will be only slightly impacted by the cost: let’s see what happens after 2016.

The key parameters for SiC adoption are high-voltage device availability (up to 10kV), cost reduction, guaranteed reliability and the fact that huge improvements can be made in the rail industry with SiC.
Currently, switching devices and diodes are silicon-based (IGBT almost exclusively for transistors). Only a few thyristors are used for basic and old locomotive designs.



The train industry supports local and global players
The aforementioned technological advancements will impact the supply chain; in this report, we illustrate how it is likely to evolve.
First, we see more and more joint ventures and worldwide partnerships driven by the “three big ones” (Alstom, Siemens and Bombardier). In fact, they will require a presence in the dynamic regions of the globe, and at the same time they will transfer some of their tech knowledge to local companies. The recent example of Alstom and Transmashholding in Russia is an accurate depiction of how important it is to be global.
The case of Chinese companies like CSR and CNR is also valid: over the last decade, they have created partnerships with the major European and American companies in order to access technological knowledge.
Furthermore, vertical integration is habitual. Like almost every Power Electronics application, it is synonymous with internal knowledge consolidation and cost reduction. Large players – when not contracting smaller players, i.e. CAF with Trainelec in Spain – have internal divisions representing Motor and Gear Manufacturing, Inverters, Power Electronics Pantographs, etc.; all of this knowledge is internal! The Russian leader Transmashholding and its 14 subsidiaries are a prime example of this “internal accumulation of knowledge”. Another example is the acquisition of Dynex by the Chinese giant CSR, which makes CSR the first Chinese company to master IGBT die manufacturing.
In a nutshell, as diverse and as inaccessible as it may look, the rail industry is now more than ever the perfect opportunity for Power Electronics: a clear, safe and innovative future is unfolding.



Who should buy this report?
• Train manufacturers and system integrators
Understand supply-chain evolution and emerging technologies
Forge the right partnerships with the right companies and gain a strategic advantage
Understand your new market and plan your business expansion
• Power Electronics players: device, module, PowerStack and inverter market players
Get the full picture; benchmark competitors’ and partners’ technical solutions
Understand the value-chain and its evolution
Make the right decisions and position yourself in a tough market



Companies mentioned in the report:
ABB, Alstom, Amphenol, Ansaldo Breda, AOS, APEI, Auxel, AVX, Bombardier, CAF, CNR, Converteam, Cornell Dubilier, CREE, CSR, Danfoss, Delphi, Dynex, Eagtop, EBG, Ebusbar, Eldre, Electronicon, Epcos, Fairchild, FCI, Fronius, Fuji Electric, Gamesa, General Electric, GM, Goldwind, Hitachi, Hyundai Rotem, Icemos, Idealec, Infineon, Ingeteam, International Rectifier, Ixys, Kawasaki, Kemet, Kopafilm, KTX, MACMIC, Magnachip, Maxwell, Mersen, Methode, Microsilver, Mitsubishi, Molex, Multicontact, NEC, Nesscap, Nichicon, Nissan, Ohmite, ON Semiconductor, Panasonic, Parker, POSEICO, Powerex, PowerOne, PSA, Renault, Rogers, Rohm, Semikron, Semisouth, Siemens, SiRectifier, Skoda, Skoda Transportation, ST Microelectronics, Stadler, Starpower, Sungrow, Sunways, Talgo, TE Connectivity, Toshiba, Toyo Denki, Trainelec, Translhor, Vincotech, Vishay, Vossloh...

Electronic Component And Semiconductor Industry in Russian Federation

Glossary

Different Types of Modules

Executive Summary

Power Electronics Market: Introduction

Overall Power Electronics
• Inverter Market
• Why is an Inverter Important?
• 2011 – 2020 Value Chain Analysis: Wafer, Device, System

Focus on IGBT
• 2011 Overall IGBT Module Manufacturers’ Market Shares
• Focus on Over-1,2kV

Introduction to the Rail Traction Market

Rail Traction Segmentation
• Train Market
• Rail Market Status
• Estimation of the World Market Share of Train Rolling Stock Manufacturers

Market Forecasts

Power Modules and Devices

Passive Components and Connectivity

Rail Traction Industry and Specificities

Technology Developments and Roadmap
• At System Level: PowerStack
Industry Example
Trends
Market Estimations
• At Material Level: What About SiC?
What TAM for SiC
SiC Device Manufacturers
• Silicon is Still Competitive… and Improving!
Main Developments for Silicon-Based Devices
IGBT Power Module Makers for Transportation Benchmarking
• Passive Components:
Capacitors
Resistors
Connectivity: Power Connectors and Busbars
Magnetics: Inductors and Transformers

Supply Chain and Players’ Strategy
• Main Player Profiles and Strategies
• Who is Doing What?

Conclusions

Power Electronics at Yole