Lot of Room
DAVID J. LEEDS | GTM RESEARCH
THE SMART GRID IN 2010:
MARKET SEGMENTS, APPLICATIONS AND INDUSTRY PLAYERS
Companies that will compete in Grid Optimization are the large grid hardware
companies such as ABB, SEL, S&C Electric, Areva, GE and Siemens. More than
any other sector a few big players have traditionally dominated this sector. What’s
changed is that the convergence of IT and communications into the utility world will
bring a host of new competition into this space. IT giants such as Cisco and Oracle
have announced their intentions to throw their hats into the grid optimization ring.
Further, leading AMI providers such as Itron and Silver Spring Networks will likely
expand their solutions into this space.
Start up-companies like Current Group (that
markets sensing and monitoring technologies) and MicroPlanet (which offers voltage
regulation products) and other complementary technologies and software providers
that happen to fall in between the cracks of what larger players are providing will
compete here. In fact, we see a lot of room in this market segment for companies
that can offer cutting edge devices that can integrate into the larger picture.