jen@environmentalleader.com
With the economical and political changes over the last several months, as well as promises of stimulus packages, new hybrid technologies, and better grid systems, 2009 can be seen more as a rebuilding year, according to Rick Nicholson, Energy Insights' Vice President of Research.
Below, Nicholson's top 10 predictions for the North American utility industry in 2009.
- Energy efficiency will become the "first fuel" choice for electric utilities.
- Renewable energy growth will slow in 2009 but rebound in 2010.
- Utilities will place greater emphasis on distributed energy as a grid support tool.
- Intelligent grid technology spending will reach $70 billion in 2013.
- Web portals will be the fastest way to enable active consumer energy management.
- Energy trading and risk management technology spending will stall.
- Generators will be focused on managing and reducing carbon exposure.
- Scarcity of clean water and availability of new technology will awaken the sleeping water market.
- Gas utilities will be hit harder than electric utilities by the economic crisis.
- U.S. utility IT spending growth will decrease to 1.9 percent in 2009, down from 5.9 percent prior to the economic crisis.
You can read more on Utility Automation & Engineering T&D's website.
