A new report from Navigant Research analyzes the global market for significant microgrid enabling technologies, including diesel generators, natural gas generators, fuel cells, solar photovoltaic (PV), distributed wind, advanced energy storage, and others.

Dramatic change is occurring in the microgrid market, as a greater emphasis is being placed on the economic value that these systems bring to the overall power grid.  At the same time, new business models, designed to support full commercial deployment of microgrid systems, are being investigated and implemented.  According to a new report from Navigant Research, worldwide vendor revenue from microgrid enabling technologies (METs) is expected to grow from $5.5 billion annually in 2014 to $26.3 billion in 2023.

“Microgrids are emerging as a global phenomenon,” says Peter Asmus, principal research analyst with Navigant Research.  “These systems offer compelling features, including the ability to isolate themselves from the utility distribution system during power outages, as well as a high capacity to integrate diverse distributed energy resources, such as wind, solar PV, and conventional generation from diesel generators.”

While distributed generation (DG) is the most prominent component of the microgrid technologies examined in this report, the value proposition for advanced energy storage has been advanced by governments and regulators in key microgrid markets.  Advanced energy storage is expected to represent the single largest investment category among MET options by 2023, according to the report, though DG investments as a whole, are on track to remain the largest segment.

The report, “Microgrid Enabling Technologies,” analyzes the global market for significant METs, including diesel generators, natural gas generators, fuel cells, solar PV, distributed wind, other renewables (micro-hydro and biomass), combined heat and power (CHP), smart islanding inverters, advanced energy storage, plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) energy storage capacity, and microgrid software.  The report provides an analysis of the market issues, including technology drivers and implementation challenges, associated with microgrid technologies.  Global market forecasts for capacity and revenue, segmented by technology and region, extend through 2023.  The report also examines the basic principles and commercial time horizons for key METs, as well as the competitive landscape.  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.