Led by major smart grid deployments currently taking place across the world, the grid will be primed for the deployment of disruptive technologies by 2020. Most of the technologies in this report are at the very early stages of development with respect to their adoption among utilities. However, some of them have the potential to revolutionize the entire electric industry as we know it today. To get there, billions of private, public, and corporate R&D dollars will be needed to decouple the centralized electric grids that exist today. In addition, a coordinated vision and coalition of likeminded entrepreneurs, engineers, scientists, governments and consumers will also be needed.

The goal of this report, developed by Zpryme’s Zpryme Research Team and Smart Grid Advisory Board, is to provide insight into the emerging technologies that need to be further developed in order to build a more sustainable, agile, and eco-friendly grid. This report is not intended to be an exhaustive review of the technologies mentioned in this report.

Key Takeaways by the Numbers

  • Seventy-two percent of smart grid and utility executives identified nano-generation/nano-grids as the top disruptive technology to impact utilities and electrical systems in the next 10 years.
  • Advanced grid automation and switching, advanced data communications, dynamic energy management, and ultra-high voltage transmission (Super Grids) were ranked second through fifth, respectively.
  • Wireless electricity, ultra-fast EV charging, battery powered homes, utility-telco-cable-internet integration, and digital power conversion were ranked sixth through tenth, respectively.
  • By 2020, the aggregate annual global market value of the top 10 disruptive technologies is estimated to reach $60.7 billion.
  • The technologies with the most potential, in terms of market value, are ultra-high voltage transmission (Super Grids), advanced grid automation and switching, advanced data communications, and dynamic energy management.

Methodology

Zpryme utilized secondary research sources; other syndicated research reports, government smart grid plans and projects to assess the projected market value in 2020 for each of the top 10 ranked disruptive technologies. An online survey of 232 utility and smart grid professionals was conducted to identify which technologies were most likely to have the biggest impact on utilities and the electric grid. The survey was conducted in May of 2013. Additionally, several of the key themes and technologies in this report were adapted from the book, The Advanced Smart Grid, authored by Andres Carvallo and John Cooper.

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  • Executive Summary
    • Methodology
    • Key Takeaways by the Numbers
    • Disruptive Technologies With the Most Potential to Impact Utilities/Electric Grid in Next 10 Years
    • Estimated Global Market Value For Top 10 Disruptive Technologies by 2020
      • Digital Power Conversion
      • Utility-Telco-Cable-Internet Integration
      • Battery Powered Homes
      • Ultra-Fast EV charging
      • Wireless Electricity (power)
      • Ultra-High Voltage Transmission
      • Dynamic Energy Management
      • Advanced Data Communications
      • Grid Automation and Switching
      • Nano-Generation/Nano-Grids
  • Recommendations and Opportunities
  • Nano Generation (nanogrids)
    • Key Players
    • Key Projects
    • Application to Smart Grid/Utilities
  • Dynamic Energy Management
    • Key Players
    • Key Projects
    • Application to Smart Grid/Utilities
    • Transactive Energy
    • Key Projects
    • Application to Smart Grid/Utilities
  • Grid Automation and Switching
  • Key Players
    • Major Projects
    • Application to Smart Grid/Utilities
  • Advanced Data Communications
    • Key Players
    • Major Projects
    • Application to Smart Grid/Utilities
  • Ultra-High Voltage Transmission – Super Grids
    • Key Players
    • Major Projects
    • Application to Smart Grid/Utilities
  • Wireless Electricity (power)
    • Key Players
    • Key Projects
    • Application to Smart Grid/Utilities
  • Battery Powered Homes
    • Key Players
    • Key Projects
    • Application to Smart Grid/Utilities
  • Ultra-fast EV Charging
    • Key Players
    • Key Projects
    • Application to Smart Grid/Utilities
  • Utility-Telco-cable-internet integration
    • Key Players
    • Key Projects
    • Application to Smart Grid/Utilities
  • Digital Power Conversion
    • Key Players
    • Key Projects
    • Application to Smart Grid/Utilities
  • Disruptive Technology to Watch
    • Drones
    • Augmented Reality
    • Robotics
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • 3D Printing
    • Wearable Tech
    • RFIDs
    • LTE Advanced – Beyond LTE
    • Gamification
    • 3D Holographic Projection/Computing
    • Lasers
    • Nanotechnology
    • Superconductivity
    • Quantum Computing
  • Zpryme’s Market Outlook

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