The smart grid market in Europe will experience considerable development over the next five years, as utilities across the region work to meet rigorous efficiency mandates and integrate an ongoing build-out of renewable energies into the grid. GTM Research’s latest report forecasts the cumulative European smart grid technology market to hit €3.1 billion in 2012, with that number set to increase 120% to €6.8 billion in 2016.

GTM Research’s The Smart Grid in Europe 2012: Technologies, Market Forecasts and Utility Profiles is a market resource on the European smart grid. At over 130 pages, the report offers strategic insight into the technology, economic and competitive dynamics propelling growth in the region. The report also compares smart grid evolution in Europe with that of the U.S., China and Japan, and profiles the smart grid integration models/pilot projects of Europe's most active utilities, including EDF, ENEL, E.ON, GDF Suez, RWE, Iberdrola, Endesa, Centrica, Vattenfall, EDP, Dong Energy and Fortum.

“There is a confluence of progressive policy, technology advances and utility necessity propelling the smart grid in Europe,” said Geert-Jan van der Zanden, the report’s author. “We expect an integrated rollout in the region over the next five years that will lead to substantial deployment for each of the smart grid’s major market segments: advanced metering, distribution automation, integration of renewables, electric vehicles and utility IT systems.”

As this integrated rollout takes shape, the report examines national markets and utilities that will emerge at the center of opportunity.

“While the majority of national markets in Europe are advancing smart grid goals, few if any have meaningfully engaged the end-consumer,” said van der Zanden. “The next step for these countries and their utilities is to demonstrate the value of home energy management or demand response technologies to their customers; consumer engagement is the key variable in the final business case for smart grid in Europe.”