Greentech Lead Asia: Energy and environment players see
the greatest convergence today from within their own sector as well as the
industrial automation and ICT industries, according to Frost & Sullivan’s
latest “big predictions for 2012.”
There is convergence between energy and automotive
markets primarily due to the emergence of electric vehicles and e-mobility that
is driving innovation in batteries, energy storage, transmission and
distribution infrastructure, battery charging and integration of mobility into the
smart home.
Further Frost & Sullivan said convergence
opportunities exist also in the water sector driven by innovation among
treatment technology, process control and automation and instrumentation
sectors.
“Data and opinions of key stakeholders, combined
with analysis and commentary from Frost & Sullivan industry experts, have
been used to present key market highlights, hot growth topics, global and
regional hot spots, areas of market convergence, and bold predictions for
2012,” said John Raspin, director and partner at Frost & Sullivan.
Value chains, less consolidated and stretching across
hundreds of components, have been and are still presenting many opportunities
in the renewable energy industry.
Wind power is the most highly attractive segment to
European companies. Solar PV still has a positive growth outlook but
opportunities for European players are slowly vanishing as the global market
becomes more dominated by Chinese players.
Chemical and material companies have begun to take
significant steps further down the value chain to acquire key technology and
solution capabilities in the fast growing and high potential energy and
environment markets, the research firm said.
Smart technology is going to play a key role in the
future development of the energy and environment sector with efficiency
improvements at the centre of the market evolution. Smart grids, buildings, homes, cities and water networks
will all become a reality this decade, thus creating far-reaching market growth
opportunities.
There is and will be increasing focus on deployment of
small scale renewable energy close to the point of consumption. This will
create opportunities for suppliers or micro-generation technologies as well as
requiring new strategies and business models from power generation companies
and utilities.
According to Frost & Sullivan, growth of distributed
generation, legislation surrounding this market as well as integration of
distributed generation into the grid are emerging trends especially in the
developed markets.