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Summary of our market study
The global genset market is valued at $5 billion and is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 5%.
In France, after the sanitaryware crisis which caused a sharp fall in the market, the Russian-Ukrainian conflict which began in February 2022 led to a spectacular rise in electricity prices.
The French domestic market remained relatively stable until 2021, and began to rise again from 2022 onwards.
Generators with a capacity of less than 75 kVA dominate the market in terms of numbers.
Powerful diesel generators account for 70% of worldwide sales, with manufacturers such as Cummins, SDMO, Jenbacher-Kohler and Caterpillar.
After the slowdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the genset market is seeing an increase in demand in the commercial, industrial and residential sectors.
The bulk of the market is for emergency generators for the retail, public administration, defense, hospital and education sectors. These electricity-intensive sectors have an absolute need for emergency power solutions.
A particularly cutting-edge sector is the supply of emergency power units for data centers, the number of which is growing rapidly in France and Europe.
The public works sector makes extensive use of rental equipment to meet occasional demand. Loxam, Kilouto, CGL and many other rental companies meet this demand.
In the residential sector, the French population is increasingly concerned about energy prices, and the majority say they are ready to adopt energy-saving measures. This sentiment may encourage homeowners to consider generators as a protection against potential disruptions and a means of managing expenditure.
Generators can also help reduce electricity consumption during peak periods. This is a return to past practices such as the EJP peak-shaving program.
Over 6,000 generating facilities in France are still in use.
The market is also moving towards more environmentally-friendly offerings, with small rechargeable electric generators becoming best-sellers, replacing small gasoline or diesel-powered sets.
The manufacture of electric motors, generators and transformers is stable until 2020, and is now on the rise again.
Generator market players
- Cummins - renowned for its reliable and innovative diesel and natural gas generator sets. With a heritage spanning more than a century.
- Generac Power Systems - Leader in residential, commercial and industrial standby power
- Kohler - Its generators are renowned for their robust construction and seamless integration into a variety of applications, from residential to industrial.
- Multiquip - Serving the construction and industrial sectors, Multiquip has built a reputation for providing versatile, reliable power solutions.
- Harrington Generators International Ltd - Specializing in power generation, Harrington Generators offers a range of generator sets to meet a variety of energy needs.
- Caterpillar - Global manufacturer of high-power generator sets, represented in France by Eneria
- Honda Siel Power Products - Honda generators are renowned for their portability, energy efficiency and low noise levels.
- SDMO - A member of the Kohler family, SDMO Industries is a major player based in France, specializing in the design, manufacture and installation of generator sets. It provides customized energy solutions worldwide.
- Jenbacher, Austrian manufacturer of industrial engines and generator sets, part of General Electric (GE)
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Summary and extracts
1 Market overview
1.1 Definition and presentation
Generating sets are self-contained devices that produce electricity and consist of an internal combustion engine that drives an alternator. They come in a wide range of models, from a few kilograms to several dozen tons in weight. Power is measured in volt-amperes (VA), kilovolt-amperes (kVA) or megavolt-amperes (MVA). The most powerful gensets are powered by diesel engines or gas turbines.
The genset market can be segmented according to several criteria:
- Electrical capacity (< 75 kVA, 75 - 350 kVA and > 350 kVA)
- Use (commercial, residential or industrial)
- Fuel type
- End application (standby, Prime/Continuous Power and Peak Shaving Power)
For all sectors of use (from events to construction, from the food industry to healthcare), the presence of generators in the structure is particularly important in the event of a power cut.
The generator market can be divided into three main categories:
- High-power generators, built by manufacturers with very large industrial engines (Caterpilar, Jenbacher...). These are standby generators purchased by large-scale industrial consumers, hospitals and public authorities, and by installers of cogeneration plants. This market is currently driven by the considerable worldwide growth in data centers. These units are manufactured to special order.
- Medium-power generators mass-produced by genset manufacturers (Pramac, etc.) are used mainly in the construction and public works sectors, and in the events industry to meet one-off power or electrical safety requirements. Most of these gensets are rented for short periods.
- Small, mass-produced generators distributed by DIY superstores and specialist retailers. These sets are often manufactured in China, using engines produced by the world's leading engine manufacturers (Honda, Kipor....)
A new trend on the French market is the rental of medium-power generators. Even if the French electricity grid is highly reliable, many industrial sectors need to secure their energy requirements in the event of a power cut. This is why several market players have emerged in the generator rental sector(Kiloutou and Loxam, for example).
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the global genset market. This was the consequence of several lockdowns that led to the closure of retail outlets as well as many manufacturing plants, and thus a reduction in global electricity demand.however, in 2022, a number of factors have led to the start of new growth in the genset market, including rising energy demand from the manufacturing industry and the growing need for emergency back-up power solutions.
The Russian-Ukrainian conflict, underway since February 2022, has also had a significant impact on the French electricity market. It has led to a considerable rise in prices: as an indication, the price per MWh per month for VSEs in 2023 reached €240/MWh, compared with €140/MWh in 2022. This represents an opportunity for the genset market, which could be used to a greater extent during peaks in electricity consumption, particularly in winter.
Finally, the end of the tariff shield previously put in place by the Borne government suggests an increase of almost 9% for 2024, and a potentially harsh winter in 2024, to the benefit of generator production companies.
1.2 The global market
The global genset market was valued in **** at $*.** billion, and is expected to grow at a CAGR of *.**% over the period ****-****, reaching a market value of * billion by the end of the decade. [***]
Global market size for generator sets World, **** - **** Source : Precedence Research * forecasts
it should be noted that this market has been negatively impacted by the health crisis, due to reduced demand for electricity, mainly from institutional customers (***), with plant closures during the confinements as well as the general drop in activity. [***]
However, concerns about the energy market in general, and the electricity market in particular, following the the war in Ukraine, represent a growth lever for the genset market, which should benefit from the uncertainty in the energy market.
It is estimated that generators with a capacity of less than ** kVA account for the largest share of the sector's market, with the Asia-Pacific region holding the largest share in terms of sales.holds the largest share of the market by **** (***). What's more, diesel-powered generators will account for **% of the global market by ****.
Leading global players include Cummins, Generac Power Systems, Kohler, Multiquip, Harrington Generators International Ltd, Caterpillar and Honda Siel Power Products. The emerging trend is to ...
1.3 The domestic market
In order to study the size of the genset market, we will look at the market for the manufacture of motors, generators and electrical transformers (***), of which it is a part.
sales trends in the market for the manufacture of electric motors, generators and transformers France, ****- Jan-Sept ****, in billions of euros Source: ****
The market for the manufacture of electric motors, generators and transformers has been relatively stable over the period ****-****. However, there will be a significant drop in ****, with market sales falling by around **%. However, the data show a positive trend in subsequent years. The year ****, up to November, shows a continuation of this growth, with sales reaching *.*** billion euros. This performance indicates a marked upward trend, suggesting a strong post-pandemic recovery and possible market consolidation.
Focus on sales index trends in the manufacture of electric motors, generators and transformers France, Jan-Sept ****, base *** in **** Source: ****
Looking more closely at the first ** months of ****, it appears that the monthly indices intermittently reach peaks of over *** (***), indicating that there has been some tension at several points during the year on demand for electric motors, generators and transformers. However, a more steady progressionseems to be taking shape towards the end of ****, probably ...
1.4 Foreign trade
In order to study the foreign trade data for generating sets, we looked at data relating to customs code ****, which defines: "Generating sets and electric rotary converters."
trend in the level of exports of generating sets and electric rotary converters France, ****-****, in millions of euros Source: ****
Between **** and ****, France's exports of electric generators and rotary converters showed some notable fluctuations. Over the period ****-****, an upward trend can be observed, underlining the sector's steady growth. In ****, sales dropped significantly to ***.*** million euros, a decrease of around **.*% on the previous year, mainly due to the impact of the COVID-** pandemic on international trade, highlighting the market's volatility in the face of this type of risk.
However, **** marked a turnaround , with sales reaching €***,*** million, indicating a significant recovery of almost **% compared to ****. This recovery suggests a resilience in the industry, reflecting a post-pandemic economic recovery and increased demand on the international market for this equipment, which surpasses the **** level. This can be attributed to the growing stress associated with the energy needs of a population subject to ever-increasing electricity prices.
Main countries importing electric generators and rotary converters France, ****, in millions of euros Source: ****
In ****, the main countries importing gensets and converters ...
2 Demand analysis
2.1 Demand for electricity determines demand for gensets
In the last quarter of ****, electricity consumption at normal temperatures was *.*% lower than in ****, and *.*% lower than in the ****-**** period: this impacted demand for electrical generators, unevenly across sectors.
In the last quarter of ****, national consumption fell by *% compared with historical averages. This drop initially impacted the industrial sector, with varying repercussions depending on the branch, before spreading to the residential sector (***) and the tertiary sector. National mobilization in favor of energy savings played a decisive role in this development[***].
In ****, the largest consumer sector will continue to be the business and professional sector, followed by the residential sector with almost **% of final electricity consumption, and finally large-scale industry with **% of total volume.
Furthermore, while business customers are those connected to the public distribution network for professional use, and whose subscribed power is less than ** kVA, large-scale industry refers to customers served directly by the transmission system operator.
Breakdown of electricity consumption by sector France, ****, in Source: ****
Consumption by SMEs, professionals, businesses and private individuals on the distribution network has risen by *% compared with ****, to approach pre-crisis levels. The upturn in economic activity is clearly visible in the growth in consumption by industries connected to the public transmission network, which ...
2.2 Demand explodes with rising energy prices and fears of power cuts
In the past, the use of generators was much more common. This was the era of the EJP "peak-shaving" scheme. Since ****, EDF had been encouraging businesses to buy powerful generators to produce electricity and sell it at low prices on winter days, when peaks in electricity demand could destabilize the grid. This offer (***) is no longer available on a subscription basis.
Subsequently, the development of nuclear power, stricter environmental standards for diesel and the liberalization of the electricity market meant that businesses could no longer rely on the EJP. However, these powerful ground-mounted devices can still be found in factories, stores and offices, or in parking lots, although their role is limited to a back-up solution in the event of grid failure. So there is still a demand for this type of installation. There are over *,*** installations of this type in France (***).
Whereas the market for generator sets was driven mainly by demand from computer data centers and retirement homes, which are now equipped in the same way as hospitals, the market for generator sets in France is also growing.this year, the market has been boosted by both the fear of power cuts and the rise - in some cases ...
2.3 Focus on residential demand
The use of electricity
Electricity is used by households to power several appliances. The average breakdown of electricity consumption in France is shown below. It shows that heating, cooling, washing, information and communication technologies and domestic hot water account for the majority of electricity consumption.
Average breakdown of residential electricity consumption volume by use France, ****, % (***) Source: ****
Growing French concern about rising electricity prices
According to a Vattefall, Hopenergie.com study conducted by BVA in May **** on the perception and vision of the energy market:
**% of French people perceive the impact of the energy price crisis on their bills **% of French people are worried about price trends over the next ** months **% say they are ready to make further efforts to reduce their energy consumption to contribute to France's energy independence
A year later, a similar study was carried out among rural communities byIfop on behalf of Hellio, AMF and Bouge ton Coq, and it appears that French people's concerns are much greater in rural areas.
**% are worried about energy prices (***) **% have already had to give up heating because of rising prices (***)
These concerns can directly lead the French to opt for emergency solutions. These include generators to avoid power cuts, ...
2.4 Focus on electricity demand in business and industry
In the service sector, retail is the activity that consumes the most electricity, as shown in the graph below. In ****, the retail sector consumed **,*** gigawatt-hours. The following activities consume the most electricity: public administration and defense, human health, education, wholesale trade and telecommunications.
Economic activities in the tertiary sector that consume the most electricity France, ****, gigawatt-hours Source: ****
Below is the **** consumption in GWh of the various activities in the tertiary sector. [***]
Associated NAF code Activity name Consumption in GWh **** ** Sale and repair of automobiles and motorcycles * *** ** Wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles * *** ** Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles ** *** ** Land and pipeline transport * *** ** Water transport ** ** Air transport *** ** Warehousing and auxiliary transport services *** ** Postal and courier activities *** ** Accommodation *** ** Catering * *** ** publishing *** ** Motion picture, video and television program production; sound recording and music publishing *** ** Programming and broadcasting *** ** Telecommunications * *** ** Programming, consulting and other IT activities * *** ** Information services * *** ** Financial services activities, excluding insurance and pension funds * *** ** Insurance *** ** Activities auxiliary to financial services and insurance * *** ** Real estate activities * *** ** Legal and accounting activities * *** ** Head office activities; management consulting * *** ** Architectural and engineering activities; technical testing and analysis activities * *** ** Scientific research and development * *** ** Advertising and market research *** ** Other specialized, scientific and technical activities *** ** Veterinary activities *** ** Rental and ...
3 Market structure
3.1 Value chain
3.2 Industry players and organization
In order to study the forces at work in the genset market, data relating to NAF code **.**Z, which defines the"manufacture of electric motors, generators and transformers". This aggregate includes the following activities:
The manufacture of electric motors (***) Manufacture of electrical distribution transformers Manufacture of arc-welding transformers Manufacture of fluorescent ballasts (***) Manufacture of substation transformers for electricity distribution Manufacture of voltage, transmission and distribution regulators Manufacture of generators (***) Manufacture of motor-driven generator sets (***) In-plant rewinding of armatures
change in workforce in the manufacture of electric motors, generators and transformers France, ****-****, in thousands of units Source: ****
The sector's salaried workforce has been steadily declining since ****, recording a **% drop over the ****-**** period.
number of companies manufacturing electric motors, generators and transformers France, ****-****, in units Source: ****
The number of companies has also fallen over the ****-**** period, with a **% drop in the total number of companies.
Source: ****
Most of the sector's salaried workforce is concentrated in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Grand Est regions, with *,*** and *,*** employees respectively. Interestingly, the top two regions in terms of number of companies are Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Île-de-France, with ** and ** companies respectively.
It's easy to see why companies in the Grand Est region are larger, ...
3.3 Type of generator depending on use
The type of genset required depends on its intended use. The table below summarizes the different options according to the desired use:
Source: ****
3.4 French players
According to Europage, a sourcing platform for companies in the BtoB business sectors, there are ** players positioned in the generator set segment in France. They are divided into several categories. The four main categories (***) are listed in the table below:
note the presence in the above table of several French generator manufacturers, such as Dugelet, Gelec, Alsafix, Lepron and *Gareni.
4 Offer analysis
4.1 Offer typology
Not all generators have the same capacities or the same technologies. There are three main types on the market: gasoline-powered generators, diesel-powered generators and soundproof generators.
Gasoline-powered generators
Gasoline-powered generators are appreciated for their versatility. They are suitable for domestic use, for DIY enthusiasts for example. They are available with electric or manual engine starting. Power output depends mainly on the size of the machine, and can range from *.* kW to * kW. This model is compact, generally has a single-phase power supply and is very quiet.
Diesel generator
Diesel generators are more suited to construction sites or intensive use. These generators have the advantage of a wide power range, from a few kilowatts to several thousand kilowatts. These models are equipped with an electric starter and are available in single-phase, three-phase or combined versions.
Soundproof generator
Last but not least, a soundproof generator is important for acoustic comfort. Noise is not a problem, as the insulated housing prevents sound dispersion. Other generators can generate sound levels of *** dB or more, while soundproof models have sound levels of no more than ** dB. This soundproofing device is fast, lightweight and space-saving, making it ideal for domestic use. Because of their limited power, they ...
4.2 Production price trends
French industry output price index trends for all markets for NAF code **.** France, ****-*****, index base *** in **** Source: ****
The price of electric motors, generators and transformers naturally varies enormously according to the technology used and the power required. However, INSEE indices show that the production price of electric motors, generators and transformers in France will have risen by more than ** percentage points in **** compared with ****.
Focus on the evolution of the production price index for electric motors, generators and transformers France, August ****-October ****, base *** in **** Source: ****
Moreover, prices have exploded since the end of ****, as shown in the graph below. In fact, in two years, between October **** and October ****, production prices for motors, generators and electrical transformers rose by **%, three quarters of the increase recorded over the entire decade, which can have a considerable impact on market supply.
4.3 Best-selling model prices
The Amazon marketplace lists the best-selling products in the "generators and energy" category. The top ** products are listed in the table below (***):
Source: ****
*Price "from
In the table above, we can see the presence of several generators that recharge electrically. Indeed, with the growing concern about carbon impact, the offer is diversifying towards more ecological products (***), and demand seems to be in line with their position in the best-seller rankings.
4.4 Supply trends
A greener offering
In view of the climatic and noise nuisances associated with conventional generators, many players are looking for solutions to provide reliable, non-polluting and quiet sources of electricity when power is needed.
at the Alès international conference on green vehicles, Enedis, in partnership with Schneider Electric, presented the first mobile generator with zero C** emissions, an innovation for the ecological transition. This alternative solution to conventional generators can supply consumers during power cuts caused by work on the public distribution network, while reducing environmental impact.
In partnership with Schneider Electric, which developed the solution, SMEG **, the association for the electrification of the Gard region, and CleanTech Valley, this zero-emission mobile generator is designed to reduce emissions of particulate matter, which is a major concern for the environment. mission is designed to reduce particle and decibel emissions from diesel generators used for maintenance work (***). This zero-emission, zero-noise mobile battery prototype, which can be moved from place to place, can be charged by solar energy connected to the public grid. at ** kW, it can supply *** kWh of electricity, equivalent to over * hours of autonomous operation at full power.
With this new generation of zero-emission mobile batteries, locally-produced renewable energy can ...
5 Regulations
5.1 Hours-of-use regulations
As with any engine-powered machine, the use of generators in urban areas or close to neighborhoods is subject to noise regulations.
The law prohibits the use of noisy engine-powered tools outside the following time slots:
on working days: from *:** a.m. to ** p.m. and from *:** p.m. to *:** p.m. ; saturday: *am to **pm and *pm to *pm; sunday: from ** a.m. to noon.
In some communes, municipal by-laws prohibit the use of heat-powered tools on Sundays; check with your local council. A soundproof generator may be the only solution in town or near neighbors.
Source: ****
5.2 Generator location regulations
Under ERP (***).
The genset must be located in an approved room:
Access to the room is restricted to qualified personnel. The room is identified and easily accessible to the emergency services. The walls and high floor of the room are not in direct communication with rooms accessible to the public. Installation of a Class B fire extinguisher, compatible with the electrical risk and identified as such + ***-liter sandbox with shovel near access. equipped with an autonomous emergency lighting unit. The room must be well ventilated to the outside. The floor of the room must be impermeable and watertight, forming a retention basin of at least ** cm. If the generator is located in a basement, a ventilation duct must be installed for firefighters. Fuel lines must be fixed and watertight. If there is an integrated fuel tank, it must have an overflow drain, vents and a gauge. No more than *** l of fuel oil in the generator room (***). Installation of a fuel police valve outside the premises. Mandatory maintenance and testing : every ** days, check ; every month, **' load test (***).
Source: ****
6 Positioning the players
6.1 Segmentation
Source: ****
- SDMO (Groupe Kohler)
- FG Wilson (Caterpillar Groupe)
- Eneria (Bergerat Monnoyeur)
- Jenbacher (GE Group)
- Pramac
- Delta Service Location
- 2AST
- Clarke Energy France
- H2SYS
- Eodev
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