The market for low-voltage circuit breakers is closely tied to the development of the power industry. In 2011, China added 90.41 million kilowatts of new power generation capacity, continuing a six-year streak of exceeding 90 million kilowatts. This included 12.25 million kilowatts of hydropower and 58.86 million kilowatts of thermal power, with coal-fired units of 300,000 kW and above accounting for 95.3% of new coal capacity and 88.4% of thermal power additions. Additionally, nuclear power added 1.75 million kilowatts, while grid-connected wind power reached 15.85 million kilowatts and solar power entered large-scale production. By year-end, total national power generation capacity reached 1.056 billion kilowatts, including 231 million kilowatts of hydropower (including 13.63 million kilowatts of pumped storage), 765 million kilowatts of thermal power, 12.57 million kilowatts of nuclear power, 45.50 million kilowatts of wind power, and 2.14 million kilowatts of solar power.
By the end of 2011, non-fossil energy power generation capacity—such as hydropower, nuclear, wind, and solar—reached 290 million kilowatts, making up 27.5% of total power generation capacity, an increase of 0.9 percentage points from the previous year. The growth rate of overall power generation capacity was 2.5 percentage points lower than that of power generation, while thermal power equipment growth lagged by 6.2 percentage points, indicating slower thermal power installation growth and increased pressure on power balance. The trend of power generation shifting westward became more evident, with the western region seeing a 14.5% increase in installed capacity, followed by the northeast at 7.8%, central at 7.3%, and eastern at 6.4%. The lower growth rates in the eastern and central regions highlighted the growing tension in power supply and demand, especially where grid resource allocation is limited.
During the 12th Five-Year Plan period (2012–2016), new installed capacity was expected to exceed 500 million kilowatts. By the end of this period, annual hydropower generation would reach 900 billion kWh, equivalent to 300 million tons of standard coal, while wind power would generate 190 billion kWh, equivalent to 60 million tons of standard coal. Solar energy utilization, including both power generation and water heaters, would also account for 50 million tons of standard coal. China's annual power generation would increase by 66 to 77 billion kWh.
According to statistics, the Chinese low-voltage circuit breaker market reached 40 billion yuan in 2011. With continued growth in power generation and development in downstream industries, domestic demand for low-voltage circuit breakers is expected to grow steadily. By 2016, the market size is projected to approach 80 billion yuan.
From the late 20th century to the early 21st century, major foreign companies introduced advanced ACBs and MCCBs, continuously improving and expanding their product lines. Siemens, for example, developed communicable low-voltage electrical appliances capable of forming large industrial systems, power distribution monitoring systems, and building automation solutions. Mitsubishi’s MDU series circuit breakers enabled direct integration into power energy monitoring networks and equipment monitoring systems.
Low-voltage electrical appliances are widely used across various sectors of the economy and are closely linked to overall fixed investment. In recent years, the industry has maintained a growth rate of 10% to 15%. The market size of low-voltage electrical products is closely related to the development of power, industrial, real estate, and telecommunications sectors. As demand structures adjust and international markets open up, the industry has significant potential for future growth.
During the “Twelfth Five-Year Plan†period, smart grid construction and advancements in low-voltage electrical technology will lead to the rise of intelligent, modular, and communicable products. By 2011, the first generation of products had been phased out, second-generation products became low-end options, and third-generation and some second-generation products occupied the mid-range market. From 2011 to 2015, smart grid construction expanded into seven key areas—transmission, transformation, distribution, and communication—with total investment approaching 2 trillion yuan. At the start of 2011, the State Council launched a new rural power grid renovation project, offering new opportunities for the low-voltage electrical industry. Continued investment in power infrastructure and economic policies suggest a stable development phase for the industry, though competition in both domestic and international markets will intensify.
With the global focus on smart grids, low-voltage electrical appliances are moving toward greater intelligence and connectivity, becoming integral to smart grid development. The goal of a smart grid is to ensure reliability, safety, efficiency, and environmental sustainability. The low-voltage user end must be equally reliable and efficient, and intelligent, communicable devices such as universal and molded case circuit breakers are essential components. These innovations represent the future direction of the low-voltage electrical industry.
As multinational companies expand in China and strategic adjustments and asset restructuring occur, the impact on the low-voltage electrical industry will be significant. With the rise of smart grids, high-end and mid-to-high-end low-voltage circuit breakers will align with smart grid needs, forming a new growth area for the industry.
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