Source : Procurement Leaders
Industrial convergence, smart technology and distributed generation will be the key drivers for corporate energy strategies in 2012 and beyond, experts predict.
A Frost & Sullivan poll of several thousand companies conducted in December 2011 forecasts that smart technology is going to play a key role in the future development of the energy and environment sector. Smart grids, offices, buildings, homes, cities and water networks will all become a reality this decade, thus creating far-reaching market growth opportunities, according to the study.
The survey also notes that there is and will be increasing focus on deployment of small scale renewable energy close to the point of consumption. This will create opportunities for suppliers or micro-generation technologies as well as requiring new strategies and business models from power generation companies and utilities.
Growth of distributed generation, legislation surrounding this market as well as integration of distributed generation into the grid are all identified as emerging trends - especially in the developed markets.
“Energy and environment players see the greatest convergence today from within their own sector as well as the industrial automation and ICT industries. It is also highly significant the convergence between energy and automotive markets and relates primarily to the emergence of electric vehicles and e-mobility that is driving innovation in batteries, energy storage, transmission and distribution infrastructure, battery charging and integration of mobility into the smart home,” Frost & Sullivan said.
“Convergence opportunities exist also in the water sector driven by innovation among treatment technology, process control and automation & instrumentation sectors.”