The year 2012 represents a turning point for the smart grid. Utilities around the world have moved beyond pilot projects and are in full deployment mode for some phases of their smart grid projects, such as advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), while at the same time carefully assessing the right technology choices and business models for subsequent phases of deployment. The smart grid is no longer a novel idea, but rather it is a large global commercial venture that needs to prove its value, in concrete and financial terms, to the full gamut of stakeholders.
As a means of analyzing the evolution of the smart grid market, in addition to providing insights on industry issues that will be important factors in market growth and development, Pike Research’s analyst team has prepared a “top ten” list of key smart grid trends to watch in this rapidly changing business. This white paper examines the following ten leading trends that will help shape markets for smart grid technologies in 2012 and beyond:
This Pike Research white paper provides insights into and analysis of the key issues that will shape the smart grid market in the months and years ahead. Conclusions and predictions in this paper are drawn from a broad array of Pike Research reports, with market forecasts included for key market sectors.
Key Questions Addressed:
- Why is the conversation is shifting from meter deployment to actual application success stories?
- How can dynamic pricing bring people together to solve energy challenges?
- What does the word “architecture” really mean in the context of the future evolution of the smart grid?
- Why might we need a disaster to speed up standards for cyber security?
- Is there an upside to consumer pushback on smart meters?
- How is distribution automation (DA) converging with advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) to push the envelope on smart grid communications?
- Why are microgrids gaining traction with engineers and utilities?
- Will we ever see home area networks (HANs) gain traction with consumers?
- What is driving smart grid markets in the Asia Pacific region?
- Did the ARRA stimulus funding help or hinder the smart grid cause?
Who needs this report?
Table of Contents
1. Smart Grid Trends
1.1 Introduction
2. Ten Smart Grid Trends to Watch
2.1 Smart Meters Will Shift from Deployment to Applications
2.2 Dynamic Pricing Debates Will Escalate
2.3 “Architecture” Will Be the New Buzzword
2.4 Cyber Security Failure Risks Will Near Inevitability
2.5 Consumer Backlash Will Not Go Away
2.6 Distribution Automation and AMI Will Intersect
2.7 Microgrids Will Move from Curiosity to a Reality
2.8 Freeze on HANs Will Thaw – Just a Little
2.9 Asia Pacific Smart Grid Adoption Will Accelerate Even More
2.10 Stimulus Investments Will Bear Mixed Fruit
3. Table of Contents
4. Table of Charts and Figures
5. Sources and Methodology, Notes
List of Charts and Figures
- Smart Meter Shipments & Installed Base, United States: 2010-2020
- Cumulative Smart Grid Security Revenue by Segment World Markets: 2011-2018
- Total Microgrid Capacity by Region, Average Scenario, World Markets: 2011-2017
- Consumer Interest in Energy Information Displays
- Smart Grid Revenue by Application, Asia Pacific: 2010-2017
- Dynamic Pricing Reduces Peak to Off-Peak Ratio Better than Pure Technology Play
- Layers of Smart Grid Architecture
- Example of Protests Against Smart Meters in the United States
- Distribution Automation Communications Options
- American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009: Smart Grid Provisions