Power Industry Focuses on Renewables: Solar PV is the Fastest Growing
April 27, 2017 | Frost & SullivanEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
Increased decentralisation, the need to decarbonise electricity generation, and digitisation to boost operational efficiency are driving market opportunities in the power industry. Continued regulatory support for renewable energy in key markets will see global power investment reach $443.5 billion in 2017. Solar photovoltaic (PV) will be the fastest growing segment, followed by wind power, accounting for 37.5% and 21% of global investment, respectively, by 2020. The evolving market will compel power sector participants to craft innovative business models, offer customer-centric solutions, and create flexible portfolios. There will also be higher consolidation as companies seek funding to expand and introduce novel products.
Power - Image.pngGlobal Power Industry Outlook, 2017, a new analysis from Frost & Sullivan’s Power Generation Growth Partnership Service program, examines power market trends, including installed capacity, investment, and regional growth across coal-fired, gas-fired, nuclear, hydro, solar PV, wind and biomass power.
“As new geographies emerge, local legislation and pro-renewable incentives will impact the fuel mix, compelling industry participants to identify challenges and define localisation strategies for long-term growth,” said Energy & Environment Principal Consultant Jonathan Robinson. “As the renewable and distributed energy markets mature, a large installed capacity of equipment that needs servicing will also offer the operation and maintenance sector attractive growth prospects.”
Key trends in the global power industry include:
- Continuing transition to more decentralised and intelligent energy systems
- Demand from utilities for energy management solutions, on both the supply and demand sides
- High growth rates for solar PV, with investment forecast to increase by 11.5% to $141.6 billion in 2017. International agreements, such as COP21, and declining renewable technology costs, will ensure more capacity per dollar invested.
- China will be the largest market in terms of revenue investment, but the fastest growth will come from India, which will see double-digit growth in investment to 2020.
- 73.4% of power generation investment in Europe will be for renewable technologies, while Russia and CIS buck the trend and focus on nuclear power and hydro.
- There will be an overall increase in global coal capacity, even as the utilisation rate of existing coal-fired plants falls in most regions.
- New business models that incentivise smarter consumption patterns, coupled with growth of energy storage technologies, will reduce the need for peak capacity investment in mature energy markets.
- Strong investment in hydropower, despite it being a mature technology; China, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America will be key regional markets.
“Digitisation has the potential to drive efficiency gains and unlock new revenue streams for market participants in business areas such as demand response, utility as an energy service company or ESCO, predictive and real-time analytics, vehicle to grid, and virtual power plants and microgrids,” noted Robinson. “However, implementation will take time and significant investment.”
About Frost & Sullivan
Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants. For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community.
Suggested Items
Hanon Systems Wins Third PACE Award for Visible-Light LED Photocatalyst Technology
04/18/2025 | PRNewswireHanon Systems, a leading global automotive thermal management supplier and subsidiary of Hankook & Company Group, has been named a winner of the 2025 PACE Awards. This marks the company's third win, making it the first Korean supplier to achieve this recognition.
Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2025: Aster–Enhancing Design for Effective Testing Strategies
04/18/2025 | Real Time with...IPC APEX EXPOWill Webb, technical director at Aster, stresses the importance of testability in design, emphasizing early engagement to identify testing issues. This discussion covers the integration of testing with Industry 4.0, the need for good test coverage, and adherence to industry standards. Innovations like boundary scan testing and new tools for cluster testing are introduced, highlighting advancements in optimizing testing workflows and collaboration with other tools.
Can the Electronics Industry Balance Tariffs With Investment?
04/18/2025 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamTo better understand the U.S. administration’s recent actions on global trade policies, Barry Matties and Nolan Johnson met with Richard Cappetto, IPC’s senior director of North American government relations, who highlighted both the challenges and opportunities available to U.S. companies in the recent trade activity. This could include increased domestic manufacturing and supply chain diversification.
University of Arizona Pioneering Technical Education Beyond Semiconductors
04/18/2025 | Marcy LaRont, PCB007 MagazineWhile many universities struggle to keep their curriculum up to date with the evolving needs of the electronics industry, the University of Arizona stands head and shoulders above the others. Its Center for Semiconductor Manufacturing incorporates five of the colleges at UA and emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach to prepare students for diverse careers in technology and manufacturing.
IPC Strengthens Electronics Industry Awareness with Appointment of Carrie Sessine as Global Communications Vice President
04/16/2025 | IPCIPC, the global electronics association, announces the strategic appointment of Carrie Sessine as vice president of global communications. This newly created executive position underscores the association’s commitment to championing the electronics industry's critical contributions to global innovation and economic growth.