NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A re-alignment of energy market incentives will be necessary to bring the vision of a smart energy system to reality - this is the message from a book published today that collates the views of more than 60 experts who took part in the Energy Smart Technologies Leadership Forum in Fall 2010.
Bloomberg New Energy Finance's exclusive annual gathering of thought leaders in smart energy brought together experts from utilities, government, technology, finance and non-profit organisations. They debated the key issues now facing the smart energy industry – a fast-emerging sector that encompasses everything from buildings that use advanced power management systems to smart grids, and from power storage technologies to electric vehicles.
The Forum Results Book, released today by Bloomberg New Energy Finance, in conjunction with partner Hudson Clean Energy Partners and sponsor Silver Spring Networks, details the key achievements in the industry so far, milestones that could be achieved on the road to 2020, and immediate recommendations for industry, investors and government.
Key findings include:
- Consumer education is still a challenge, but a growing skills gap in industry also needs to be addressed. Technology developers and utilities alike are calling for new programs to meet demand for engineering skills;
- More late-stage and corporate investment is needed to spur innovative companies and solutions from technology development, through pilots to large-scale deployment; and
- Market regulations need to change to incentivise energy saving, and to create an environment where the benefits and risks of distributed energy are shared equitably.
"There is an enormous amount of momentum behind the smart energy transformation today, but if we are to move from pilot projects and point solutions to a full vision of smart, distributed energy, then regulation will need to evolve," said Albert Cheung, Lead Analyst for Energy Smart Technologies at Bloomberg New Energy Finance.
Gil Forer, Global Leader of Ernst & Young's Global Cleantech Leader and a contributor to The Forum Results Book, explains: "The global transformation to a more resource efficient and low carbon economy depends on the continuous development and deployment of smart energy. Partnerships and dialogue among stakeholders, including governments, corporations, investors, and emerging companies, are essential to accelerate this smart energy agenda.”
Gene Kakaulin of Hudson Clean Energy added, “Adoption of energy efficiency technologies represents the single largest growth opportunity in the energy sector. Companies that can best solve the challenges with product awareness, split incentives and financing will become industry leaders with a tremendous potential to create value.”
The full Results Book is available for download at http://www.bnef.com/free-publications/white-papers/.
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