Incremental Wiring Associated With Green Technologies

Figure 106: Forecast Incremental Wiring Associated With Green Technologies (kt Cu)

We foresee the green technologies wiring market as one showing a steady but fairly modest growth from quite a low base. The rate of growth will depend in part on government incentives to generate energy at the premise level and to conserve resources through other green technologies, as the economics of being green are not attractive.

Clearly, there is a growing trend towards “green cables”, with more sustainable material content, recyclability and manufacturing process. To some extent, the move towards being green is enforced by legislation. In Europe, the incorporation into national laws of EC Directive 2002/96/EC ‘Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)’ has already had a considerable effect, implementation of the EC directive 2002/95/EC ‘Restriction of the use of certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (RoHS)’ has yet to come.

For many, the understanding of the term “green cables” is no more than a reflection of what is coming to be recognised as a requirement in law. As such, it is not possible to identify green cables as a discrete market, so no forecasts are presented here. It should be said, however, that there will always be a small market for cables that significantly exceed the environmental requirements stipulated in law.

In Section 4.2.2 we also refer to a potential market for electrostress cable, capable of greatly reducing electromagnetic fields. This is very unlikely to become a mainstream market, the application probably being limited to the extreme end of the green building market. We do not provide forecasts for this product, but it is worth watching as a market that stands an outside chance of becoming significant.

We also mention a potential market for ecological wiring, where conductor size is determined not by economics, but by an environmental audit taking into account the environmental saving in lower energy consumption and the environmental detriment in material use in larger cables. The application of such a concept is likely to apply only to a few prestige commercial and government buildings, and is very unlikely to become mainstream. Where it is applied, however, with wire use increasing by up to 200%, a large increment in copper use applies. As such this is a market worth considering, despite its likely low penetration.

Another potential growth market is for high power data cables, capable of carrying 30W or more of electricity to remote network devices. These probably have a greater application in commercial buildings, especially in data centres, than in the home. Where such cables, are used they may replace independent power supply with energy cables, so it may appear that there would be a net negative effect on copper. In the battle against fibre optics, however, the ability of copper data cables to carry power as well as data is an important advantage. Focus on this may help slow the erosion of market share. As high power data cables is not really a discrete market but part of a continuum, no forecasts are presented here.

A definitely negative development for copper would be a wide adoption of wireless power transmission technologies. The principal involved is the transmission of electric power from the electricity source to the appliance. This requires a transmitter unit and a receiver coil. Both items contain winding wire although, of course, wire is not needed between source and destination.

Quite a number of companies are involved in ensuring uniform standards and promoting this technology through the Wireless Power Consortium, with such slogans as “Wireless in Beautiful”, “Connectors and Cables are Ugly” and “Connectors and Cables are Unnecessary”. While there is considerable hype, however, to date wireless power transmission is limited to a few low power products such as electric tooth brushes and UV lamps for water purification. At present, transmission modules are expensive and the technology for high power transmission limited. Should these problems by overcome, we may expect consumer (and even legislative) resistance to electric power being transmitted through the air. We do not, therefore, consider this as an emerging market.

1. 
   New wiring will be required to connect devices and switches to the mains power supply. In many cases, substantial rewiring of the building will be required to bring current wiring up to appropriate standard. This is likely to be the biggest opportunity for the copper industry.
   

2. 
   Some devices, such as stair lifts, will require electrical motors containing copper.
   

3. 
   A small amount of copper is used in sensoring and control devices.
   

An ECI study by JEL consulting³⁴ presents the view that copper use in developed markets currently stands at 30 kg per 100 m², and that this would need to be increased to 70 kg per 100 m² to provide ageing, comfort and health monitoring technologies.

1. 
   Residential care is particularly expensive and it has been the government’s policy for some time to help elderly people remain in the community. In practice, this places a substantial cost on voluntary carers.
   

2. 
   The UK currently offers a Disabled Facilities Grant of up to £30,000 to adapt homes to help people on benefits to live more comfortably and independently. This grant currently helps around 40,000 people per year. These grants include measures such as installing stair lifts, walk in showers and wider doors.
   

3. 
   The government also supports home improvement agencies, which aim to take steps to help the elderly to access repair and maintenance services and stay in their homes.
   

4. 
   The government's Warm Front Scheme run by a private contractor, provides a range of heating and insulation measures to vulnerable householders receiving certain benefits. Since it started in 2000, Warm Front has assisted around 1.6 million households, with around half of those aged over 60.
   

While the UK government’s approach appears to be piecemeal, it is clearly working towards reducing residential care costs by taking steps to help people stay in their own homes. There remains considerable scope for it to further adopt smart ageing technologies.