For the past 12 months, the energy ecosystem has extended its feelers for answers on the long-term viability of microgrids, the centralized systems that can connect to the main grid or act unaided.

In the INFOgraphic, Top Microgrid Usage Areas and Barriers to Adoption, with partner Utility Dive, a Zpryme survey of 120 utility executives revealed that remote and rural areas are seen as the top usage areas for microgrids, and the top three barriers for adoption are costs, adequate power storage, and interoperability.

Though microgrids have been around for many years, only recently has the technology carved out a lucrative product category for the energy industry. Companies such as ABB, GE, Lockheed Martin, Oracle, S&C Electric Company, SAIC, Schneider Electric, Siemens, Valence Energy and Viridity Solutions have recognized this developing revenue stream and are exploring new business models to best engage not only the market, but also researching “enabling technologies” such as analytics, storage, and distributed generation.

“With a conservative Zpryme estimate of $13.4 billion market globally by 2020, microgrids will become an increasingly important factor in the generation, distribution and intake of electricity, gas and water, starting with the BRICS nations,” stated Mark Ishac, Managing Director of Zpryme’s Zpryme Practice. “Whether the the discrete-tech is rurally located or military-based, based on the recent executive survey there seems to be a healthy market entry point for microgrid solutions that are scalable, highly interoperable, and provide a fast return on investment.”

Microgrid R&D and deployment are growing at a screaming rate and will clearly play a defining role for the future grid; however what markets hold the greatest promise? What’s the best go-to market strategy? What companies and projects are paving the way? For those in-depth answers and how your company can better understand and engage the microgrid marketplace contact Zpryme to make a custom microgrid market research request today.

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