North America Will Lead the Worldwide Microgrid Market With Nearly 6 Gigawatts of Total Capacity by

North America Will Lead the Worldwide Microgrid Market With Nearly 6 Gigawatts of Total Capacity by 2020, Forecasts Navigant Research

BOULDER, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- With the launch of dozens of successful pilot programs globally, the adoption rate of microgrids is expected to accelerate over the next several years. Microgrids offer greater resilience, a high potential for integrating distributed renewable generation resources, and the ability to isolate themselves, when necessary, from the wider power grid—a capability known as islanding. According to a recent report from Navigant Research, North America is currently the leading microgrid market and will remain the leader through 2020. Total microgrid capacity in North America will reach 5.9 gigawatts in 2020, representing 64 percent of worldwide capacity, the study concludes.

"The U.S. has pockets of poor power quality scattered across the country, as well as a structure of behind-the-meter markets for distributed energy resources that favors microgrids," says Peter Asmus, principal research analyst with Navigant Research. "The latter has stimulated creative aggregation possibilities at the retail level of power service. Instead of being driven by grid operators or municipal utilities, which is the case in Europe, the microgrid market in the United States is customer-driven."

The first U.S. state moving forward with a policy program to promote microgrids is Connecticut, which is responding to a pair of extreme weather events, according to the report: Tropical Storm Irene in August 2011 and a rare blizzard that hit the East Coast in October 2011. Both events led to massive power outages. This effort - which has authorized construction of up to 27 microgrid sites as of early 2013 - is supported by an initial grant and loan program of $15 million.

The report, "Market Data: Microgrids", provides newly updated capacity and annual vendor revenue forecasts for the five primary microgrid market segments: commercial/industrial, community/utility, campus/institutional, military, and remote (off-grid) microgrids. The report also offers capacity and revenue forecasts for utility distribution microgrids - a segment that overlaps with community/utility and remote segments - as well as microgrid enabling technologies, the latter being the group of key components deployed within microgrids. The economic and public policy assumptions behind the forecasts are explained in detail, along with data trends and regional market drivers. 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, Smart Industry, and Smart Buildings sectors. Additional information about Navigant Research can be found at www.navigantresearch.com.

About Navigant

Navigant (NYS: NCI) is a specialized, global expert services firm dedicated to assisting clients in creating and protecting value in the face of critical business risks and opportunities. Through senior level engagement with clients, Navigant professionals combine technical expertise in Disputes and Investigations, Economics, Financial Advisory and Management Consulting, with business pragmatism in the highly regulated Construction, Energy, Financial Services and Healthcare industries to support clients in addressing their most critical business needs. More information about Navigant can be found at www.navigant.com.

* The information contained in this press release concerning the report, "Market Data: Microgrids," is a summary and reflects Navigant Research's current expectations based on market data and trend analysis. Market predictions and expectations are inherently uncertain and actual results may differ materially from those contained in this press release or the report. Please refer to the full report for a complete understanding of the assumptions underlying the report's conclusions and the methodologies used to create the report. Neither Navigant Research nor Navigant undertakes any obligation to update any of the information contained in this press release or the report.

Navigant Research
Richard Martin, +1-303-493-5483
richard.martin@navigant.com
or
Laverne Murach, +1-202-481-7336
laverne.murach@navigant.com

KEYWORDS: United States North America Colorado Connecticut

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:

The article North America Will Lead the Worldwide Microgrid Market With Nearly 6 Gigawatts of Total Capacity by 2020, Forecasts Navigant Research originally appeared on Fool.com.

Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 - 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.