An electrical switchgear type called a ring main unit (RMU) is used to deliver power to electrical loads. Typically, a busbar, switchgear, and transformer make up an RMU. The metal busbar is used to link the switchgear and transformer together. The transformer is connected and disconnected from the electrical loads via switchgear. The voltage of the power can be changed using a transformer.
A form of electrical switchgear called a ring main unit (RMU) is used in low-voltage (LV) networks to distribute electricity. It is frequently used in ring networks where power needs to be delivered to numerous load centres after coming from various substations. Radial networks also employ RMUs; however, these networks don’t employ them as frequently.
Typically, RMUs consist of two components: a switchgear unit and a transformer. The transformer lowers the voltage so that it may be used by the load centres, while the switchgear unit houses the switches and other equipment required to manage the flow of power. RMUs come in indoor and outdoor varieties. Outdoor RMUs are often employed in utility applications, while indoor RMUs are typically used in commercial and industrial settings. Outdoor RMUs can be used in harsher conditions and are more weather-resistant.
RMUs are often constructed from metal-clad or metal-enclosed materials. RMUs with metal cladding are often used outside, but those with metal enclosures are typically used indoors. RMUs come in manual and automatic varieties. Automatic RMUs are frequently used in applications where it is necessary for the unit to run autonomously. RMUs come in single-phase and three-phase varieties. Residential applications normally employ single-phase RMUs, whereas commercial and industrial applications typically use three-phase RMUs. The key advantages of adopting an RMU are its compact design, adaptability to a wide range of applications, ease of installation, and low maintenance requirements. RMUs can also be used to offer circuit isolation, which is crucial in applications where it’s necessary to safeguard equipment against electrical problems.
| Ring Main Unit Market Report Scope and Segmentation | ||
| ATTRIBUTES | DETAILS | |
| ESTIMATED YEAR | 2023 | |
| BASE YEAR | 2022 | |
| FORECAST YEAR | 2030 | |
| HISTORICAL YEAR | 2017-2022 | |
| UNIT | Value (USD Million/Billion) | |
| BY REGION | North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa | |
Market Opportunities for Ring Main Units
Electrical switchgear used in ring main networks is known as a ring main unit (RMU). In the event of a fault, it is used to isolate specific network segments and reconnect those segments once the fault has been fixed.
From 2019 to 2024, the market for ring main units is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 5.5%. The increased investments in the power sector, the rising demand for renewable energy, and the rising demand for smart grid technology are the main drivers of market expansion.
Type, voltage, application, and geography are the segments used to categorise the ring main unit market. The market is divided into three types of ring main units: air-insulated, gas-insulated, and oil-filled. During the projected period, the sector for gas-insulated ring main units is anticipated to increase at the greatest CAGR. This is because gas-insulated ring main units provide advantages such as compactness, dependability, and minimal maintenance costs.
The ring main unit market is divided into three groups based on voltage: 11 kV, 22 kV, and 33 kV.During the projected period, the 33 kV category is anticipated to increase at the highest CAGR. This is a result of the power industry’s rising demand for high-voltage ring main units. The industrial, commercial, and residential segments of the ring main unit market are separated based on application. During the projection period, the commercial category is anticipated to increase at the highest CAGR. This is a result of the commercial sector’s rising demand for ring main units for uses including lighting, air conditioning, and security.
Geographical segments of the ring main unit market include North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, and South America. In the market for ring main units worldwide, North America is anticipated to have the greatest market share. The presence of numerous power utilities in the area and rising investment in the power sector are to blame for this.
Market Restraints for the Ring Main Unit
According to a recent analysis by MWR, Inc., the market for ring main units would reach USD 3.09 billion by 2025. Over the forecast period, the market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 4.2%. Over the next eight years, market expansion is anticipated to be fueled by the rising use of renewable energy sources. The main drivers anticipated to propel market growth are the rising demand for energy and the requirement for its effective delivery. It is also anticipated that rising urbanisation and industrialization will increase consumer demand. The market is also influenced by government policies and rules that encourage the construction of smart grid infrastructure. Using clean and renewable energy sources is encouraged by government policies.
Over the course of the projected period, market expansion is anticipated to be constrained by the high cost of installation and maintenance. Another factor that is anticipated to hinder market expansion is the requirement for a sizable investment in the creation of smart grid infrastructure. It is also anticipated that customer ignorance will impede market expansion.
On the basis of product, application, and geography, the market is divided into segments. The market is divided into two categories based on the kind of product: gas-insulated ring main units and air-insulated ring main units. The market is divided into three categories based on application: electricity generation, transmission, and distribution.
Geographically, the market is further divided into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. A growing need for power in developing nations like China and India is likely to make Asia Pacific the largest market throughout the forecast period. Due to favourable government policies and regulations, the market in North America is also predicted to rise significantly throughout the forecast period
Key Trends in the Ring Main Unit Market
Throughout the projected period of 2020–2025, the global market for ring main units is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of roughly 7%. A form of electrical switchgear called a ring main unit is used in low-voltage networks to distribute electricity. With voltages ranging from 1 kV to 36 kV, secondary distribution networks are where it is primarily used. Circuit breakers, fuses, and disconnectors are a few switchgear parts that make up a standard ring main unit. They are connected in a ring configuration.
The primary driver of the expansion of the ring main unit market is the increasing demand for power and the growing need to upgrade existing electrical infrastructure. The development of the market is also influenced by the expanding construction sector, particularly in emerging markets. In addition, additional market expansion prospects are anticipated as a result of the growing use of renewable energy sources.
Voltage-wise, the ring main unit market is divided into three categories: 11 kV, 22 kV, and 33 kV. Due to the rising demand for electricity from the residential and commercial sectors, the 11 kV category is anticipated to hold the greatest share of the market. Due to increased investments in upgrading the electrical infrastructure, the 33 kV category is anticipated to develop at the greatest CAGR during the projection period.
Primary distribution and secondary distribution are the two market segments for ring main units based on application. Due to the rising demand for energy from the residential and commercial sectors, the primary distribution segment is anticipated to expand significantly throughout the projected period.
Geographical segments of the ring main unit market include North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, the Middle East, and Africa. The region with the biggest market share is anticipated to be Asia Pacific, where both the population and the demand for electricity are both growing. Due to the region’s expanding construction industry, North America is anticipated to increase significantly during the projection period.
Drivers of the Ring Main Unit Market
The market for ring main units is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 5.2% over the forecast period. The market is influenced by a number of variables, including the rising demand for power, the requirement for enhanced grid flexibility and reliability, and the requirement to cut carbon emissions.
One of the key factors driving the ring main unit market is the rising demand for power. The demand for electricity is rising as a result of the expanding global population and rising living standards. The World Bank projects that between 2016 and 2030, the yearly increase in global electricity demand will be 2.7%. During the projection period, it is anticipated that this rising demand for energy will boost the ring main unit market.
Another factor driving the market for ring main units is the requirement for increased grid flexibility and reliability. The conventional system is unable to supply all of the extra electricity needed. As a result, a better grid that is more dependable and adaptable is required. One of the essential elements of the enhanced grid is the ring main unit. By enabling simple distribution network reconfiguration, it gives the grid flexibility. During the forecast period, this is anticipated to drive the market for ring main units.
Another factor influencing the market for ring main units is the requirement to lower carbon emissions. Improved grid infrastructure is now necessary due to the increased use of renewable energy sources. One of the essential elements of the upgraded grid infrastructure is the ring main unit. It aids in the grid’s integration of renewable energy sources. During the forecast period, this is anticipated to drive the market for ring main units.
COVID-19’s Impact on the Ring Main Unit Market
The COVID-19 pandemic has had an effect on every industry in the world, and the ring main unit market is no exception. The market has a value of $XX billion in 2019 and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of $XX% to reach $XX billion by 2027. Due to the negative effects of the outbreak on numerous end-use industries, the demand for ring main units has decreased.
One of the key end-use sectors for ring main units is the automotive sector, which has been negatively hit by the outbreak. The lockdown has caused the production of vehicles to halt in a number of nations. This ultimately had an impact on the demand for ring main units by disrupting the car industry’s supply chain.
Another significant end-use industry for ring main units is the building sector. Due to the outbreak’s suspension of numerous construction projects, the construction industry has been severely impacted. Due to the fact that the construction industry is a significant consumer of ring main units, this has caused a decline in demand for these units. As a result of the lockdown and closure of several power plants, the outbreak has also reduced demand from the power sector. As the electricity sector is one of the largest customers of these units, this has directly affected the demand for ring main units.
The market for ring main units has suffered as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic. Market participants’ earnings have decreased as a result of the decline in demand from various end-use industries. However, as the various end-use sectors begin to pick up again in the future years, the market is anticipated to rebound.
Key Industry Developments in the Ring Main Unit Market
During the projected period, the ring main unit (RMU) market is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of about 5%. One of the key factors influencing the market is the increased demand for energy, particularly in the commercial and industrial sectors. The expansion of the market is also being fueled by rising investments in the development and renovation of power transmission and distribution networks.
The ring main unit market has been divided into four geographic segments: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World. Due to the rising need for electricity in the region, the Asia-Pacific region is anticipated to be the biggest market for ring main units. The market is expanding in part due to the rising population and urbanisation.
Future Prospects for the Ring Main Unit Market
With the increasing need for energy around the world, the ring main unit industry has a bright future. An electrical component called the ring main unit is used in ring networks to deliver power. It is a crucial part of the electrical distribution system and is employed in a number of industrial, commercial, and residential applications.
From 2019 to 2025, the market for ring main units is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 5.5%. The market is fueled by rising urbanisation, industrialization, and demand for power. Furthermore, the market expansion is anticipated to be boosted by the increased need for renewable energy sources. The expensive price of ring main units, however, is anticipated to impede market expansion.
The ring main unit market is divided into three categories: type, application, and region. The market is split into two types of ring main units: air-insulated and gas-insulated. During the projected period, the air-insulated ring main unit sector is anticipated to develop at the greatest CAGR. The increasing need for air-insulated ring main units in the distribution of power is to blame for this.
The market is divided into three categories based on application: industrial, commercial, and residential. During the forecast period, the industrial segment is anticipated to develop at the greatest CAGR. This is a result of the industrial sector’s rising demand for electricity.
North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, and South America are the geographical divisions of the ring main unit market. In 2019, North America is anticipated to account for the greatest market share. This is explained by the fact that there are numerous manufacturers in the area. During the projected period, the market in Asia-Pacific is anticipated to develop at the fastest rate. This is explained by the region’s expanding industrialization and urbanisation.