BOULDER, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rebounding from a soft first quarter, worldwide smart meter shipments picked up steam in the second quarter of 2012. According to a new tracker report from Pike Research, a part of Navigant’s Energy Practice, global volumes in the quarter totaled 18 million units, up sequentially by nearly 19 percent. Even in North America, where the pace of deployments has slowed in recent months, meter shipments grew in the second quarter from the first three months of the year, the study concludes.
“The second quarter shipment gains are encouraging, but in North America shipments will start to dwindle as major smart metering projects reach completion this year,” says senior research analyst Neil Strother. “The next phase of growth is shifting to projects in Western Europe and Latin America, where sizeable deployments are expected in the next couple of years. And, of course, China continues to deploy at a rapid pace as it strives to fulfill its goal of some 300 million smart meters by mid-decade.”
China accounted for the vast majority of global shipments, with 73 percent of the market in the quarter, according to the report. Chinese planners have apparently decided to forge ahead with major deployments despite a slowing economy, as a robust electric grid remains a key component of the country’s plans for sustained growth. Similarly, the European market demonstrated significant increases despite economic headwinds, as smart meter rollouts gained momentum in Spain and the United Kingdom.
The Smart Grid Deployment Tracker, updated quarterly, provides detailed analysis of worldwide utility smart grid and smart meter programs including tracking of customer endpoints, metering vendors, communications vendors, and systems integrators. The tracker includes a tactical examination of technologies, deployment timeframes, and vendor selections for each utility deployment, along with vendor market share analysis. An Executive Summary of the report is available for free download on the Pike Research website.
About Pike Research
Pike Research, which joined Navigant’s global Energy Practice on July 1, 2012, provides in-depth analysis of 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 Grid, Smart Transportation, Smart Industry, and Smart Buildings sectors. Additional information about Pike Research can be found at www.navigant.com/pikeresearch.
About Navigant
Navigant (NYSE: 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, “Smart Grid Deployment Tracker,” is a summary and reflects Pike 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 Pike Research nor Navigant undertakes any obligation to update any of the information contained in this press release or the report.