The dramatic expansion of high-voltage transmission systems (HVTSs) occurring today in Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa recalls the initial wave of electrification and transmission system growth that was seen during the 20^th century in North America and Europe.  In particular, the electrification of rural areas and the interconnection of formerly standalone utilities are fueling demand for longer transmission lines.  According to a new report from Navigant Research, cumulative investment in HVTSs will surpass $250 billion from 2014 to 2023.

“The HVTS market will see tremendous capital investment over the next 10 years, as the infrastructure that was installed in the post-World War II era ages out, coal and nuclear generation is retired, and new utility scale renewable wind and solar generation is installed in remote areas,” says James McCray, senior research analyst with Navigant Research. “As these technologies become more powerful and smarter, the associated IT systems used to manage complicated HVTS deployments now leverage digital wireless sensors in every new piece of equipment, enabling better visibility on the performance, health, and capacity of the transmission system at every point along the way.”

The HVTS vendor landscape is also changing, according to the report, as the focus shifts to rebuilding and extending transmission lines to utility-scale wind and solar in remote regions and deploying mega-scale HVTS infrastructure across China, India, and parts of Africa.  These efforts will create significant markets over the next decade, and companies like General Electric, with its joint venture agreement with China XD Group and its merger proposal with Alstom, are looking to expand their product manufacturing, sales, and delivery capabilities in all regions. 

The report, “High Voltage Transmission Systems”, analyzes the global HVTS market, with a focus on seven technologies: high voltage direct current, high-voltage alternating current, submarine cables, flexible AC transmission systems, asset management and condition monitoring, supervisory control and data acquisition, and substation automation.  The report provides an analysis of the market issues, including drivers and challenges, as well as regional trends and opportunities, related to HVTS solutions.  Global market forecasts for revenue, segmented by technology and region, extend through 2023.  The report also provides technical descriptions of the primary technologies that represent the main components of the HVTS grid and profiles the key industry players.  An Executive Summary of the report is available for free download on the Navigant Research website.

About Navigant Research

Navigant Research, the dedicated research arm of Navigant, provides market research and benchmarking services for rapidly changing and often highly regulated industries.  In the energy sector, Navigant Research focuses on in-depth analysis and reporting about global clean technology markets.  The team’s research methodology combines supply-side industry analysis, end-user primary research and demand assessment, and deep examination of technology trends to provide a comprehensive view of the Smart Energy, Smart Utilities, Smart Transportation, and Smart Buildings sectors.