Power Distribution Unit (PDU) Market Size, Share & Growth Analysis, By Type (Basic, Metered, Switched, Intelligent, and Others), By Power Phase (Single Phase and Triple Phase), By Application (Data Centers, Laboratories, Commercial Application, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2023-2030

The global power distribution unit (PDU) market size was valued at USD 3.31 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow from USD 3.74 billion in 2023 to USD 9.84 billion by 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 14.8% during the forecast period.

A Power Distribution Unit (PDU), also known as a Rack PDU, is a device used in data centers, server rooms, and other similar environments to manage and distribute uninterrupted power supply to various devices and equipment. PDUs are designed to efficiently distribute power to multiple devices while offering monitoring and control features.

They play a crucial role in ensuring reliable power delivery and optimizing energy usage in these environments. Power distribution units feature highly efficient power outlets, input power connections, power monitoring, and smart control capabilities.

COVID-19 IMPACT

Requirement for Remote Operations During Pandemic Spurred Expansion of PDUs

The COVID-19 pandemic, an unprecedented global crisis, had a profound impact on various industries, including this market. As a crucial component of data centers and critical facilities, PDUs play a vital role in electrical distribution and control.

The outbreak disrupted supply chains on a global scale, causing shortages of essential raw materials, components, and electronics required for PDU manufacturing. This, in turn, led to production delays, increased costs, and heightened uncertainty for manufacturers. Lockdowns and business closures led to increased demand for new data centers and related infrastructure. The sudden shift to remote work increased the reliance on cloud services and data centers, underscoring the necessity of remote management and monitoring solutions for PDUs.

The need for resilient data center operations became apparent due to remote work mandates. PDUs equipped with remote monitoring and management capabilities gained significance, as businesses aimed to ensure seamless operations, even with limited on-site personnel.

• For instance, according to the Economic Times, the demand for data centers surged as remote working gained prominence to keep companies functional during the pandemic.

Travel restrictions and social distancing measures caused disruptions in ongoing data center construction and expansion projects, leading to delays in PDU installations. Economic uncertainty also prompted businesses to reevaluate their investments, impacting decisions related to data center upgrades and expansion.

Power Distribution Unit (PDU) Market Trends

Consumer Preference for Intelligent AI Driven PDU is a Latest Trend in the Global Market

The emerging trend of intelligent AI-driven power distribution units is transforming the way power distribution and management are handled across various industries. This trend involves the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies into PDUs, enabling them to make informed decisions, optimize energy usage, enhance reliability, and provide advanced predictive capabilities. These intelligent AI-driven PDUs leverage AI algorithms to analyze and interpret data from various sensors, monitors, and connected devices. This enables them to understand power consumption patterns, predict potential issues, and make data-driven decisions to optimize power distribution.

AI-driven PDUs can predict when components might fail or experience performance issues. By analyzing historical data and recognizing patterns, these PDUs can provide alerts and recommendations for maintenance before problems occur. This reduces downtime, enhances operational efficiency, and extends the lifespan of equipment. Furthermore, AI-driven PDUs can dynamically adjust power distribution based on real-time demand, load balancing, and energy consumption patterns. They can identify energy-intensive devices and automatically optimize power allocation to minimize wastage and reduce costs.

 

Power Distribution Unit (PDU) Market Growth Factors

Rise in Number of Data Centers to Drive the PDU Market Growth

The rapid rise in data centers has significantly driven the market growth. Data centers are critical facilities that house servers, storage systems, networking equipment, and other IT infrastructure required for digital services, cloud computing, and data storage. The surge in digital services, e-commerce, social media, and cloud-based applications has led to a massive increase in the number of data centers worldwide. Each of these data centers requires a reliable and efficient power distribution system to ensure uninterrupted operations.

Modern data centers are characterized by high power density, which means they pack a significant amount of computing power into a small space. This heightened density requires precise power distribution to avoid overloads and ensure stable performance. Data centers often implement redundancy strategies to maintain uptime in case of equipment failures or power outages. These strategies may involve redundant power paths, backup generators, and uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems, which require complex power distribution solutions managed by PDUs.

Within a single data center, various IT equipment might have different power requirements. PDUs offer different outlet configurations, voltage options, and power capacity, allowing for customized power distribution to meet the diverse power requirements of various types of equipment within a data center.

Energy costs are a significant concern for data center operators. Intelligent PDUs with energy monitoring capabilities provide insights into power usage at different levels, enabling administrators to identify opportunities for energy savings.

RESTRAINING FACTORS

Limitations of PDUs to Manage Extreme Voltages and High Current Fluctuations May Obstruct Market Development

Traditional PDUs, especially those designed for basic power distribution, might have limitations in handling extreme voltage fluctuations and high current surges. Variations in voltage and unexpected spikes in current can result from external factors such as grid instability, lightning strikes, or sudden changes in power demand within the facility.

While some PDUs might offer basic voltage regulation features, they might not effectively stabilize voltage levels during significant fluctuations. This situation can potentially lead to unstable equipment performance or damage. High current fluctuations, such as those during equipment startup or sudden surges in power demand, can exceed the rated capacity of PDUs. This could result in tripped breakers, downtime, or even damage to connected devices. Inadequate voltage regulation and current management can cause damage to connected IT equipment, networking devices, and servers. This can result in unexpected downtime and costly replacements. These limitations are anticipated to deter customers looking for stable and uninterrupted electricity supply solutions for their high-end data center establishments.

The limitations of PDUs to effectively manage extreme voltages and high current fluctuations can pose operational and safety risks, potentially obstructing the development of the PDU market. Manufacturers need to focus on improving voltage regulation, current protection mechanisms, and real-time monitoring to address these limitations and provide reliable power distribution solutions to meet the demands of modern facilities.

Power Distribution Unit (PDU) Market Segmentation Analysis

By Type Analysis

Advanced Features Provided by switched PDUs Is Set To Offer Them a Leading Share

In terms of type, the market is divided into basic, metered, switched, intelligent, and others. Due to continuous efforts by data center operators to develop more modern and state-of-art-facilities, the market has witnessed a promising increase in the sales of intelligent PDUs, outpacing the rest of segments.

The switched PDU segment is projected to dominate the market during the forecast period. This is owing to their features such as remote monitoring and control for server reboots and devices and providing a complete setup for data center applications.

Moreover, intelligent PDUs segment are projected to experience the highest growth during the forecast period. This is owing to the rising globalization of cloud technology and the rising number of IT infrastructure networks across the globe.

Basic and metered PDUs segments are also projected to register a decent growth as they offer remote monitoring capabilities and easy access to power data as needed. Furthermore, they are widely adopted in various applications, contributing to market growth.

The others category includes hybrid PDU, and automatic transfer switch, which are widely used in data centers and related applications, further fueling market growth.

By Power Phase Analysis

Substantial Installations Across Data Centers and Laboratories is Providing Leading Share for Triple Phase

Based on power phase, the market is segmented into single phase and triple phase.

Triple phase segment is anticipated to dominate the market and is projected to exhibit substantial growth during the forecast period. This dominance is owing to the widespread use of three-phase power by large consumer base such as data centers, laboratories, and military & defense. Moreover, three-phase power provides more balanced power loads and allows a greater flow of power into a server racks in data center, thus propelling market growth.

Single phase segment is projected to witness a fair growth during the forecast period. This is owing to the utilization of single phase power is used by smaller power consumers, such as small as well as medium enterprises such as schools and government institutes. All such factor drives the market growth.

By Application Analysis

Exponential Growth of Datacenters is Driving the Datacenter Application

On the basis of application, we have classified market across data centers, laboratories, commercial application, and others.  

The data centers segment attains a major share of the global market. In addition, this segment dominates the market and is projected to depict the highest growth during the forecast period. This is owing to growth in the number of construction of data centers and government investments in expansion of data centers application, which drives the demand for power distribution units.

Commercial applications segment are projected to witness optimistic growth. This growth is owing to the expansion of commercial developments and increased investments in infrastructure in developing counties, which are the prime factors driving this market.

Others segment is anticipated to expand with moderate growth owing to rising demand in areas such as airport and healthcare machinery, which fuels the market growth.

REGIONAL INSIGHTS

In terms of geography, the market includes five regions which are North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa.

The Asia Pacific region is projected to dominate the market, owing to growth in number of data center across countries such as India, China, and Japan. In addition, the growing expansion of corporate infrastructure in developing countries, along with growth in sales of healthcare machinery and laboratory equipment, is driving the market growth.

China dominates the market and is anticipated to grow with a substantial CAGR during the forecast period. This is owing to rising industrial standards and growing industrial automation across China. Moreover, China is one of the largest manufacturing hubs for electronics and automotive devices, which further boosts the demand for PDUs and fuels the market growth. Moreover, over the past decade, China made unprecedented investments to elevate the standards of digital infrastructure, creating tremendous opportunities for the development of data centers across the country. These notable developments in the number of data centers are considered one of the pivotal factors contributing to China’s strong performance in the global market.

North America is currently the second-highest geographic region and is projected to experience robust growth. This is owing to increasing investments in the end user sectors such as BFSI, healthcare, and telecommunications. 

Europe is also expected to grow with robust growth owing to rising focus on energy efficiency and sustainability, which has played a crucial role in shaping this market. Energy-efficient PDUs are in demand to help organizations comply with regulations and reduce their environmental footprint.

The Middle East & Africa is projected to grow with moderate growth during the forecast period. This is owing to increasing urbanization, infrastructure development, data center expansion, and the adoption of digital technologies. Government initiatives for investing in the construction of data centers and infrastructure are contributing to this growth.

In Latin America, this market experiencing sluggish pace of growth during the forecast period. This is driven by expanding IT infrastructure, data center development, government initiatives aimed at improving infrastructure, increasing energy efficiency, and enhancing technology adoption. These factors are influencing this market in the region.

KEY INDUSTRY PLAYERS

Notable Growth Prospects Due to Increasing Digital Infrastructure to Promote Market Growth

The unit market is considered to be highly competitive due to the presence of well-established players that dominate with a significant portion of the market across the globe.

However, the increasing demand for PDUs across the data centers and the emergence of automated solutions across modern infrastructure, along with the entry of startups and new participants, have heightened the competitive landscape of the global market. The top ten players such as ABB Ltd., Delta Electronics, Inc., Eaton Corporation, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and others profiled in this report and they hold more than 64% of the global power distribution unit market share, indicating a certain level of consolidation, covering nearly half of the market.

A high level of market consolidation is observed within the established and matured markets of North America and Europe. Across these two economies, the established players have a developed and interconnected supply chain and a strong market presence in developed economies. However, due to the efforts of new entrants, will increase the market fragmentation. Substantial participation of China-based market players and startups across other countries, particularly in developing economies, such as Asia Pacific has led to intense competition. This competition reflects around 40% of the global market.

List of Key Companies Profiled in Power Distribution Unit Market: 

• ABB Ltd.  (Switzerland)


• Delta Electronics, Inc. (Taiwan)


• Eaton Corporation (Ireland)


• Hewlett Packard Enterprise (U.S.)


• Legrand (France)


• Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc. (U.S.)


• Panduit Corp. (U.S.)


• Schneider Electric (France)


• Siemens AG (Germany)


• Vertiv Group Corp. (U.S.)

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS:

• August 2023: Panduit Corp. partnered with Cisco Nexus Dashboard to integrate its intelligent PDU (IPDU). This collaboration provided data center managers with improved insights into energy usage, carbon footprint, and costs in both on-premises and multi-cloud environments.


• August 2023: Siemens launched a new generation of line monitoring relays known as SIRIUS 3UGS. These relays combined established technology with new features, making monitoring grid stability and quality easier, ensuring proper system operation, and extending the lifespan of components such as motors or compressors.


• June 2023: Siemens Smart Infrastructure introduced the highly scalable SICAM 8 power automation platform. SICAM 8 supported global climate targets by facilitating the expansion of renewable energies, simplifying their integration into existing grids, and expediting substation expansion.


• January 2023: Leviton introduced the latest Whole Home Energy Monitor and 2nd Gen Smart Circuit Breakers with Remote Control, advancing their integrated home energy management approach. This allowed customers to monitor energy consumption and production from various sources such as the grid, solar, battery, and generator.


• July 2022: Legrand Group bolstered its data center services by acquiring USystems Ltd. This move strengthened its position in the growing data center market and expanded its presence in the U.K. while growing USystems' international business.

REPORT COVERAGE

The report provides a detailed analysis of the market and focuses on key aspects such as leading companies, type, power phase, and application of the product. Besides, the report offers insights into the market trends and highlights key industry developments. In addition to the factors above, the report encompasses several factors that contributed to the growth of the market in recent years.

Report Scope & Segmentation

ATTRIBUTE	DETAILS
Study Period	2019-2030
Base Year	2022
Estimated Year	2023
Forecast Period	2023-2030
Historical Period	2019-2021
Growth Rate	CAGR of 14.8% from 2023 to 2030
Unit	Value (USD Billion)
Segmentation	By Type Basic Metered Switched Intelligent Others By Power Phase Single Phase Triple Phase By Application Data Centers Laboratories Commercial Application Others By Region North America (By Type, By Power Phase, By Application, and By Country) U.S. (By Application) Canada (By Application) Latin America (By Type, By Power Phase, By Application, and By Country) Mexico (By Application) Brazil (By Application) Rest of Latin America Europe (By Type, By Power Phase, By Application, and By Country) U.K. (By Application) Germany (By Application) France (By Application) Italy (By Application) Russia (By Application) BENELUX (By Application) Nordics (By Application) Rest of Europe Middle East & Africa (By Type, By Power Phase, By Application, and By Country) GCC Countries (By Application) South Africa (By Application) Rest of the Middle East & Africa Asia Pacific (By Type, By Power Phase, By Application, and By Country) China (By Application) India (By Application) Japan (By Application) South Korea (By Application) ASEAN Countries (By Application) Rest of Asia Pacific