FRAMINGHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Results from IDC Energy Insights' Worldwide Quarterly Smart Meter Tracker found that worldwide smart meter shipments in the fourth quarter of 2011 (4Q11) grew 11.8% over the previous quarter (3Q11) and were up 23.8% when compared to the fourth quarter of 2010. In the accompanying forecast, IDC Energy Insights expects annual smart meter shipments to surpass 140 million units worldwide by 2016, up from 25.4 million in 2011. This represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 32.9% over the 2011 to 2016 forecast period.
While IDC Energy Insights expects developing markets to drive smart meter growth through 2016, the revival of the Canadian market and an uptick in shipments to Central and Eastern Europe were the primary drivers in the closing quarter of 2011. In 2012, smart meter shipments in Europe will accelerate as country-level planning continues to progress and the pathway towards the European Commission's "20-20-20" targets finally begins to materialize. Shipments will also ramp up significantly in the Asia/Pacific region as the massive markets in China and India begin to integrate advanced metering infrastructure (AMI). The Japanese market is also gaining momentum with the renewed focus on conservation in the wake of Fukushima, while utilities in Oceana are learning to manage the consumer backlash that emerged from previous deployments.
As the smart metering industry moves through 2016, activity will shift from North America and Europe to the developing world. This shift will be accompanied by an evolution to meet a new set of market needs. Dean Chuang, senior research analyst on the IDC Energy Insights Trackers team, notes "Local deployment patterns are beginning to emerge in the global smart metering industry. Each market and each utility has different needs and different intentions for their AMI system. Smart meter vendors are developing a wide array of solutions to fit the needs of each market."
By 2016, IDC Energy Insight's expects a pronounced difference between AMI in mature markets and upcoming emerging market deployments. Utilities in emerging markets tend to focus more on billing and theft deterrence than customer engagement or next-generation smart grid applications. Additionally, emerging markets have displayed a greater degree of price sensitivity than exhibited at earlier deployments in more mature AMI markets.
A graphic showing the 2011-2016 worldwide smart meter forecast is available on the IDC Energy Insights Web site. The chart is intended for public use in online news articles and social media. Instructions on how to embed this graphic can be found by viewing this press release on www.idc-ei.com.
For additional information about the Worldwide Quarterly Smart Meter Tracker, or to arrange a one-on-one briefing, please contact Kathy Nagamine at 650-350-6423 or knagamine@idc.com.
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IDC Energy Insights provides research-based advisory and consulting services focused on market and technology developments in the energy and utility industries. Staffed by senior analysts with decades of industry experience, IDC Energy Insights covers both the utility and oil & gas segments, providing independent, timely, and relevant analysis focused on key business and technology issues. IDC Energy Insights serves a diverse and growing global client base, including electric, gas and water utilities, IT suppliers, independent power producers, retail energy providers, oil and gas companies, equipment manufacturers, government agencies, financial institutions, and professional services firms. International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology market. IDC is a subsidiary of IDG, the world’s leading technology, media, research, and events company. For more information, please visit www.idc-ei.com, email info@idc-ei.com, or call 508-935-4400. Visit the IDC Energy Insights Community at http://idc-insightscommunity.com/energy.