A new report from Navigant Research analyzes the global market for smart grid networking and communications technology, including global market forecasts for shipments, average selling prices, and revenue through 2023. 

As smart grid applications multiply, the demands upon power grid communications networks are growing and changing rapidly.  As a result, the market for smart grid networking and communications technology includes a large number of competitors with a multitude of solutions and equipment.  According to a new report from Navigant Research, cumulative global spending on smart grid communications networking and communications equipment is expected to total nearly $30 billion from 2014 through 2023.

“Whereas the focus over the last decade was largely on smart metering systems, utilities increasingly expect their networks to support a multitude of control and monitoring functions,” says Richelle Elberg, senior research analyst with Navigant Research.  “As reliability mandates spread, and distributed generation and electric vehicles proliferate, utilities’ need for visibility all the way to the grid edge will grow strongly—supporting demand for sophisticated communications solutions for the foreseeable future.”

Even as new or upgraded solutions are unveiled, the market is moving toward a smaller number of standards for most major applications, according to the report, including advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), distribution automation (DA), and substation automation (SA).  Asthe industry moves toward more standardization and interoperability between vendor solutions, support for Internet Protocol (IP)-based solutions is likely to increase. 

The report, “Smart Grid Networking and Communications,” analyzes the global market for smart grid networking and communications technology.  The study provides a detailed analysis of market drivers, market challenges, technical considerations, and key infrastructure vendors and service providers associated with communications infrastructure and services for smart grid applications.  Global market forecasts for shipments, average selling prices, and revenue, segmented by application, device type, technology, and region, extend through 2023.  The report also examines spectrum availability and cyber security requirements, as well as regional factors affecting relative shares among the major communications technologies.  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.