Abstract
A variety of trends are converging to create promising market opportunities
for microgrids, particularly in the United States. The fundamental
architecture of today' s electrical grid, which is based on the idea of a
top-down system predicated on unidirectional energy flows, is growing
increasingly obsolete. This outmoded infrastructure poses risks to grid
reliability and security, and could hinder the adoption of renewable power
generation. Microgrids are being driven in part by the broader push to create
a Smart Grid that will add intelligence and automation to the electricity
infrastructure while facilitating the integration of renewable energy
resources, electric vehicles, and greater customer control over energy
consumption. In part, however, the microgrid is an alternative vision to a
highly integrated “Super Grid” - microgrid proponents are
advocating deployments where a community, corporation, or institutional entity
can operate autonomously from the larger grid infrastructure.
Pike Research forecasts that over 3 GW of new microgrid capacity will come on
line globally by 2015, representing a cumulative investment of $7.8 billion.
North America will be the largest market for microgrids during that period,
capturing 74% of total industry capacity. In North America, the largest
category will be instutional microgrids, followed by commercial/industrial and
community grids. In other regions, however, the story is different and we
expect community microgrids to be the largest category in Europe and Asia
Pacific.
This Pike Research report analyzes and forecasts five major segments of the
emerging microgrid market: Community/Utility Microgrids,
Commercial/Industrial, Institutional/Campus, Remote Off-Grid Systems, and
Military Microgrids. It assesses key technologies that are integral to
microgrid deployments including distributed energy generation (both renewables
and fossil fuels), energy storage, and inverters. The report also includes
in-depth analysis of key players in the nascent microgrid ecosystem, including
identification of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats for key
competitors as well as case studies for each category of deployment.
Five-year forecasts provide quantification of the market opportunity in North
America, Europe, and Asia Pacific.
Key questions addressed:
- What is a “microgrid” and what are its key components and
features?
- Why are inverters the key advance enabling microgrids to develop today
despite opposition from many electric utilities?
- What are the key market drivers at the policy level - and why does the
United States have the best near-term market opportunity?
- Why are microgrids inevitable if investments in a smart grid are
accompanied by a paradigm shift from central station to distributed generation
supply sources?
- Who are the big players - and new technology vendors - in the microgrid
space, and what is their key role in developing this new energy market?
Who needs this report?
- Microgrid Developers
- Smart Grid Hardware and Software Providers
- Venture Capitalists
- Communities, institutions, and corporations interested in building their
own microgrid
- Distribution Utilities worried about worker safety and market share issues
- Policy Makers examining new business models for renewable generation
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