With recent news of companies investing time and money in developing smart meters as a way to advance their efforts in the smart grid, it’s no wonder companies are jumping at the chance to become involved in, or report on, the smart grid segment.
 
One new report, titled “Europe Smart Grid Opportunity: Analysis and Market Forecasts,” published by Companies and Markets, discusses the current state – and possible future – of smart grid related developments in Europe. 

By breaking down Europe into five regions, the report analyzes smart meters, advanced energy storage systems, high voltage direct current cables, wind and solar energy generation systems and broadband over power line. 

As countries in Europe grow more aware of the different ways to incorporate energy efficient technologies into their power grids, the European power grids have incurred losses amounting to billions per year each year that energy generation and consumption is increased. With the advancement of the smart grid movement, losses in Europe will be reduced by almost 50 percent, research officials said. 

However, the deployment of Pan-European smart grids is facing problems due to the lack of political consensus among the European nations, the report said. Additionally, the research predicts that smart meters in the European market will face stagnancy by 2012. 

Why?

In progress since 2003, the smart meter rollouts have gained momentum in recent years in areas such as Italy and the United Kingdom. Since this growth is mostly restricted to middle and southern European regions, the market is expected to rise during 2009-2011 at a CAGR of 16.3 percent, but then fall sluggish from 2012-2013. 

“Over the period 2013-2015, the smart meter market is predicted to face a decline due to it becoming a mature market characterized by a narrow base of households and establishments that require new smart meter installations,” research officials said, adding that the cumulative installed base of smart meters in Europe is expected to grow at a CAGR of 18.44 percent during the period 2009-2015.

So, why should providers and individuals invest now?

By purchasing a smart meter, buyers can identify the opportunities of the development of the smart grid infrastructure in Europe by joining the movement, not to mention be ahead of the competition. Additionally, a purchaser can increase revenues within their companies using a smart meter by understanding and utilizing key components of the European smart grid. 

With a smart meter – as well as involvement in the entire smart grid – individuals and organizations purchasing these energy efficient systems can facilitate decision-making based on strong historic and forecast data, deal analysis and current developments. 

Additionally, when discussing broadband, a hot topic right now within the United States, as companies and specific states await decisions on broadband stimulus funding, the European market for broadband over power line, or “BPL,” is predicted to rapidly decline from 2009-2015. 

The current state of BPL in Europe comes at a time when news is surfacing in the United States that broadband stimulus spending and plan developments are progressing ahead of schedule.