U.S. smart grid experts will delve into “unsolved mysteries” this year — among them, energy storage, advanced security, cloud-based network software, and data analytics — according to new survey results available from Austin, Texas-based Zpryme Research & Consulting, LLC.

In a poll of more than 300 executives in the energy, smart grid, and utility industries, the researchers found that, not only do a clear majority — eight out of ten — expect infrastructure updates and investments to continue apace, but respondents think that this is the year when the sector will start doing “deeper dives” into its own complex technology.

Expect to see heavy-hitters — including Siemens (News - Alert), General Electric, and the ABB Group — investing in research and development in energy storage, security, software, and analytics and financing subsidiaries or start-ups to commercialize their breakthroughs.

Looking specifically at prospects for expansion, Zpryme predicts that more than 52 million smart meters will be installed coast –to-coast in the United States by year-end 2012. While most industry executives expect moderate growth for the year, nearly one out of three envisioned “strong growth.”

Dr. Wei-En Tan, manager of Marketing Communications for Raleigh, North Carolina-based Elster Solutions concurred with the mainstream viewpoint. "Elster anticipates that smart grid technology deployments will proceed at a measured pace, influenced by state regulatory considerations,” he commented. “Interest continues to be strong in the municipal and co-op markets, where Elster is well-positioned."

Phil Davis, senior manager at Schneider Electric Demand Response Resource Center, opined, "Utility investments will increase, because smart grid technology is the only rational long-term strategy to manage the complex requirements of renewables integration, government regulation, emissions requirements, and increased stakeholder demands."

However there is one caveat. Federal stimulus spending will not last forever. Nearly nine out of ten executives contacted for the Smart Grid Executive Survey 2012 believe that federal government support (grants, loans, or subsidies) is "very important" to the development of the smart grid.

Indeed, without adequate state and federal funding, the researchers predict that 2012 may be the “Year of the Smart Grid Shakeout” as small to mid-tier companies run out of money due to the lengthy sales cycle associated with the utility industry.

“With federal stimulus funding ending, it’s important for utilities to have solid business cases that demonstrate real operational and consumer value in order to advance the smart grid,” Russ Vanos, vice president of Smart Grid Business Development for Liberty Lake, Washington-based Itron told Zpryme. One of the leading test beds for smart grid value and innovation is in the U.S. State of Hawaii — where, according to Dr. Yutaka Kokai, vice president of Corporate Business Development at Tarrytown, New York-based Hitachi America, Ltd.. “We are taking the lead on smart grid projects around the world. We are excited to be serving on a demonstration project in Maui; and we are working on other projects in both developed and emerging markets.”

Finally, the smart grid technologies that executives believe will make the greatest impact during 2012 include advanced metering infrastructure (60 percent), access/communications networks (43 percent), electric vehicles (42 percent), and transmission/distribution automation (41 percent).

With EVs and “the smart home” still industry aspirations, the driving forces behind the smart grid in the United States, according to Zpryme, will be AMI and communications, with distribution automation being the ever-constant backbone. Based on research results, companies such as IBM, GE, Itron, Cisco (News - Alert), and Telvent will make the most immediate impact in 2012.