Phase Change Material Cost Components
PCM prices are driven by market demand and supply relationships. Today’s U.S. market for
PCMs is not yet fully developed, resulting in limited demand that is largely responsible for their
relatively higher prices. The market potential for PCMs in wide-ranging applications including
building energy improvements, however, is significant. Because manufacturers base their prices
on future market expectations, prices are likely to drop in the future. The current energy
performance studies that the U.S. research community is conducting on PCMs are expected to
play a crucial role in shaping their prospects for building applications. Encouraging field energy
performance data developed during the last decade by different laboratories and universities will
help fuel market demand for PCMs, most likely enabling reductions in the cost of these products.