Silent Generator Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Type (Portable, Standby), By Power (1kVA-12.5kVA, 12.5kVA-45kVA, 46kVA-100kVA, 100kVA-500kVA, Over 500 kVA), By Fuel Type (Diesel, Gasoline, Dual Fuel, Gas), By Start Type (Electric, Pull, Wireless Remote), By End-use (Residential, Commercial, Industrial), and Regional Forecast, 2024-2032

The global silent generator market size was valued at USD 3.19 billion in 2023. The market is projected to be worth USD 3.37 billion in 2024 and reach USD 5.42 billion by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 6.1% during the forecast period.

Silent generators were launched to overcome the disturbance through unwanted noise created by power generators. Both a silent generator and a regular generator combine diesel/gas/gasoline/dual-fuel engines with an electric generator. The primary difference between a silent and a regular generator is the material. These generators use composite material in a generator enclosure. Further, many are enclosed with soft, porous materials that absorb sound energy and convert it into heat.

The COVID-19 pandemic had been unprecedented and staggering, with silent generators experiencing lower-than-anticipated demand across all regions compared to the pre-pandemic levels. diesel generators

Silent Generator Market Trends

Rural Development across the Globe to Boost Market Growth

Various governments across the globe are taking several steps toward rural development, and electric infrastructure is among them. Several countries are spending on instant energy power sources in the required areas. A key factor driving the development of diesel generators is the growing demand for an efficient, uninterrupted power supply in both urban and rural areas. Domestic measures to improve electricity supply and reduce power shortages have created the need for reliable backup power. Known for their durability and ability to deliver stable power output, diesel generators have become an attractive solution for businesses and homes.

One recent development with this context occurred in December 2022, where Schneider Electric, as a part of Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) member and ORPC, Inc. has collaborated to install micro grids system with an aim to provide communities worldwide with highly predictable baseload electricity in renewable energy form, enabling the global transition toward net-zero power source development.

Implementation of Noise Level Regulation to Drive the Market Expansion

Prolonged exposure to high levels of generator noise can lead to various health problems, including hearing loss, sleep problems, increased stress, and even cardiovascular issues. Controlling noise levels is crucial to protecting the health and well-being of citizens. Changing noise-related regulations pertaining to outdoor machinery and equipment utilization consider the noise created by the power generators. This depicts the demand for silent power backup solutions. Many countries have already started implementing and revising noise-related regulations to overcome the disturbance from unwanted sounds.

Furthermore, most cities in the U.S. have noise ordinances. Several homeowners' associations also have rules regarding noise pollution. For instance, Indianapolis Noise Ordinance has rules regulating noise from motors and engines for nine hours, starting from 10 pm to 7 am.

Similarly, South Bend, Indiana, also has regulations on noise pollution. As per Indianapolis Noise Ordinance, quiet zones, including schools and hospitals, need to be noise-free. If anyone wants to set up a standby generator in these locations, they will need a separate permit.

Silent Generator Market Growth Factors

Sudden Upsurge in Power Requirements to Drive the Market Growth

The increased use of heating and cooling systems, printers, scanners, routers, desktop, and notebook computers has driven the requirement for an uninterrupted power supply at home. From hospitals to data centers, the need for reliable backup power is paramount to ensure continuity and security, and mitigate critical risks during unforeseen power outages. Traditionally, diesel generators have been the backbone of backup power systems, providing a reliable, if imperfect, solution to this urgent need.

According to the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), American households spent over USD 6 billion more during the pandemic compared to the last 3-4 years. The residential sector has shown an increase in electricity usage by 10%, whereas the commercial and industrial sectors decreased by 12% and 14%, respectively, during the second quarter of 2020 in the U.S. Residential electricity usage increased steadily over and after the pandemic, which led to increased sales of generators in households.

Revival of the Construction Industry to Boost the Sales of Silent Generator

Recovery of the construction sector globally led to an increase in the requirement for power sources to run construction and safety equipment. According to an analysis by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), Washington, total private residential construction spending stood at USD 796.3 billion and private non-residential construction spending stood at USD 477 billion in November 2021 in the U.S. This constituted a rise of about 16.3% and 6.7%, respectively, as compared to the previous year.

Over the past half-decade, these generators have been used as a power source on construction sites to overcome extra noise.

RESTRAINING FACTORS

Growing Concern toward Pollution to Elevate the Adoption of Renewable Energy Sources

According to the Global Energy Review published by the International Energy Association (IEA), despite the pandemic, CO2 emissions remained at 31.5 Gt in 2020 and grew by 4.8% in 2021. By looking into the increasing pollution level, many countries' governments are banning diesel-based generators, especially in metro cities. For instance, in October 2021, the Indian government banned diesel generator sets across the national capital Delhi considering the bad air quality.

Additionally, growing renewable investment for power generation globally welcomes new technologies, such as dispatchable cells, linear generators, battery storage, and solar power, which can replace commercial silent diesel-based generators. These factors could hinder the industry expansion to some extent.

Silent Generator Market Segmentation Analysis

By Type Analysis

Silent Standby Generator Holds a Dominant Market Share Due To Growing Construction and Industrial Operations

Based on type, the market is segmented into standby and portable. The standby generator sub-segment is projected to hold the dominant market share due to growing construction spending and rising industrial operations that require more power supplies. This is expected to augment the demand for generators with high power supply capabilities with no or less disturbance to the locality.

The portable generator demand is primarily concentrated in residential sectors. The growing use of electrical appliances with a continuous power supply to run those appliances increases the demand for portable systems.

By Power Analysis

Soaring Demand for 46kVA-100kVA Systems due to Rapid Commercial and Industrial Infrastructure Development 

Rapid commercial and industrial infrastructure development across developed and developing economies is set to boost the sales of medium to high-power silent generators. Based on power, the market is classified into 1kVA-12.5kVA, 12.5kVA-45kVA, 46kVA-100kVA, 100kVA-500kVA, and over 500 kVA. Among all power types, 46kVA-100kVA dominates the global market. This is due to the high volume backup power requirement in the commercial sector. To supply uninterrupted power to offices, hospitals, malls, and restaurants, generally, a silent generator with power 46kVA-100kVA is used.

By Fuel Type Analysis

Diesel Segment to Record High Demand Due to Lower Maintenance Cost

Based on fuel type, the market is segregated into diesel, gasoline, dual fuel (gasoline/propane), and gas. Among these, silent generator based on diesel fuel is expected to account for a major share in the global market due to their high load operation, lower maintenance cost, and high engine efficiency.

Silent gas power generator has moderate penetration across the globe regarding backup power requirements. Moreover, the gas price is lower than any other fuel. Therefore, gas could be a prominent option for running a generator in the future. Gasoline price is much higher than other fuels. Otherwise, generators can run smoothly without lag with gasoline as well. Due to the other convenient fuel source, the silent gasoline-based generator demand is still not at par.

By Start Type Analysis

Electric Start Type Generators to Register Substantial Growth Due to Engine Specification

By start type, the market is divided into electric, pull, and wireless remote. Over the past half-decade, silent electric start based generator has accounted for the highest silent generator market share globally. The primary reason behind the dominance was its engine specification, which is much more comfortable with electric start.

Although the electric start type holds the highest market share, the growth potential of the wireless remote type will increase substantially over the forecast period. The need for flexibility regarding overall control of generator operation will augment the wireless remote-type silent generator sales in the long run. The market penetration of pull-type silent generators is very low compared to other types and will lose its market share year after year.

By End-use Analysis

Commercial Sector to Dominate the Market Owing to Requirement of Reserve/Noiseless Surroundings

Based on end-use, the market is divided into industrial, commercial, and residential. The commercial segment primarily dominates the utilization of silent based generators. Commercial establishments such as offices, hospitals, banks, and educational institutions require silent surroundings to overcome disturbance. To continue work, there should be an uninterrupted power supply during operational hours. Continuous power requirements in the telecom sector further boost the demand for this generator.

The growth potential in the residential segment is comparatively high compared to other areas. This is favored by the growing disposable incomes and growing endeavor for comfortable living.

REGIONAL INSIGHTS

Geographically, the market has been studied across five prominent regions. These include North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East & Africa, and Latin America.

The North America market value stood at USD 1.05 billion in 2021 and is anticipated to hold the largest market share over the forecast period. The regional growth is being driven by increasing construction spending, growing urban population, and industrial operations.

Additionally, growing power outages and increasing demand for continuous power supply for several commercial and industrial works are surging the demand for this generator across the region. The U.S. has a rich presence of the world’s largest generator manufacturers; whose domestic sales volume concentration is much higher than other operating regions.

The Asia Pacific region is the second-largest market for silent type generator sales. This can be attributed to rapid industrialization and fast-paced development in commercial and residential sectors. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the construction sector across Asia has shown a positive growth trajectory, which was the prominent factor driving the silent generator market growth after the pandemic.

List of Key Companies in Silent Generator Market

Generac Holdings Acquires Ecobee to Enhance Residential Energy Offerings

Manufacturers across the globe focus on developing their product portfolio to serve maximum number of customers from different industries. Leading market players primarily seek to expand their geographical presence, targeting supply-deficient regions. Delivering exact requirements and customer satisfaction is the primary goal of the leading market players.

To cite an instance, in November 2021, Generac Holdings acquired Ecobee, a Toronto-based smart home thermostat startup. The company spent about USD 770 million on the acquisition. The primary intention of the deal was to enhance the company's residential energy technology offerings. Generac power generation and energy management devices combined with Ecobee's cutting-edge technology created a reliable home energy ecosystem.

LIST OF KEY COMPANIES PROFILED:

• Caterpillar Inc. (U.S.)


• Cummins Inc. (U.S.)


• Generac Power Systems, Inc. (U.S.)


• Atlas Copco AB (Sweden)


• Kirloskar Oil Engines Limited (India)


• DENYO CO., LTD. (Japan)


• MAHINDRA POWEROL (India)


• Honda Power Equipment (U.S.)


• CRAFTSMAN (U.S.)


• Westinghouse Electric Company LLC (U.S.)


• WhisperPower International BV (Netherlands)


• Ashok Leyland (India)


• Jakson Group (India)


• Jiangxi Vigorous New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (China)


• Briggs & Stratton (U.S.)

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS:

• September 2021 – Generac Power System launched a new DC generator designed to rapidly charge PWRcell batteries. The PWR generator offers both the cost-saving benefits of solar power and power resilience and independence provided by a home standby generator. This was the new addition to the battery storage and PWRcell Solar combination. The generator was designed to be highly fuel-efficient and extremely quiet.


• September 2021 – Caterpillar announced their new offering of generator sets capable of operating on 100% hydrogen. The generator sets were only designed for those who will be ordering, as announced by the company. At the same time, the company also announced its upcoming power generation solution, which was operated on natural gas blended with 25% hydrogen.


• December 2021 – Cummins Inc. announced the approval of all diesel-based generator sets to use Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) for standby applications. The company's initiative was focused on fulfilling sustainability goals and enabling decarbonization, thereby lowering its carbon footprints. Like biodiesel, HVO is derived from the same feedstock and has very low carbon emissions, which improves oxidation stability and makes it more sustainable.


• January 2022 – Honda Power Equipment announced the sale of a EU32i portable generator with a newly developed engine with a maximum output of 3.2kVA. The sales of portable generators began in Europe in March 2022, followed by other global regions. The generator was a great portable power source option for various uses, including outdoor and recreational activities.


• September 2020 - Honda Power Equipment launched the “my generator” Bluetooth app for remote operation and monitoring. The app was mainly designed for the electric start model. The whole interface can be seen on the smartphone screen with the option of one tap start and stop and other features. The four generators designed for Bluetooth monitoring were EU2200i, EU2200i super quiet series, Deluxe series EM6500, and EM5000. According to the company, CO-MINDER detection technology for several other generator ranges would be available by 2020.

REPORT COVERAGE

The global silent generator market research report offers an in-depth analysis of the market. It further provides details regarding the product adoption across various regions. Information on market dynamics, trends, drivers, opportunities, threats, and market restraints can further help stakeholders gain valuable insights into the market. The report offers a detailed competitive landscape by presenting information on key players and their strategies in the market.

Report Scope & Segmentation