Driven by Smart Grid Integration, the Electric Utility Substation Automation Market Will Reach $4.3 Billion by 2020, Pike Research Forecasts

BOULDER, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Substation automation equipment, including communications, protective relays, supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) devices, and related sensors, has been a significant and mature market for at least a decade. Today, the integration of substation automation functions into the broader smart grid architecture is gradually shifting the nature of the substation automation opportunity toward newly automated smaller distribution substations, and into retrofit modernizations of previously automated transmission substations. According to a new report from Pike Research, a part of Navigant’s Energy Practice, this trend will drive steady growth in the global market for substation automation, which will grow from $2.7 billion in 2012 to $4.3 billion in 2020.

“The smart grid trends driving automation deeper into the distribution network, combined with continued growth in Asia, will sustain steady growth in the overall substation automation sector.”

“Even as individual equipment costs and per-substation spending are declining due to technology advances and a shift to retrofits, we expect that the overall market will continue to grow,” says chief research director Bob Gohn. “The smart grid trends driving automation deeper into the distribution network, combined with continued growth in Asia, will sustain steady growth in the overall substation automation sector.”

Today, new transmission substations make up the largest segment of global substation automation revenue. According to the new report, this segment is expected to peak in 2013 and 2014 and to slowly decline through 2020, yielding an effective compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of zero percent for the period from 2011 to 2020. Retrofits of existing transmission substations, and automation of distribution substations, meanwhile, are forecast to grow at 7.1 percent and 7.0 percent CAGRs respectively over the same period. By 2020, newly automated distribution substations will make up the largest application segment for substation automation equipment.

The report, “Substation Automation”, reviews the history, drivers, key technologies, evolving standards, and leading vendors associated with substation automation technologies. The size and growth of the global substation automation equipment market is forecast through 2020 and segmented by automation device categories (SCADA, protective relays, sensors, communications), by transmission and distribution substations, by new versus retrofit installations, and by major world regions. An Executive Summary of the report is available for free download on the Pike Research website.

About Pike Research

Pike Research, which joined Navigant’s global Energy Practice on July 1, 2012, provides in-depth analysis of global clean technology markets. The team’s research methodology combines supply-side industry analysis, end-user primary research and demand assessment, and deep examination of technology trends to provide a comprehensive view of the Smart Energy, Smart Grid, Smart Transportation, Smart Industry, and Smart Buildings sectors. Additional information about Pike Research can be found at www.navigant.com/pikeresearch.

About Navigant

Navigant (NYSE: NCI) is a specialized, global expert services firm dedicated to assisting clients in creating and protecting value in the face of critical business risks and opportunities. Through senior level engagement with clients, Navigant professionals combine technical expertise in Disputes and Investigations, Economics, Financial Advisory and Management Consulting, with business pragmatism in the highly regulated Construction, Energy, Financial Services and Healthcare industries to support clients in addressing their most critical business needs. More information about Navigant can be found at www.navigant.com.

* The information contained in this press release concerning the report, “Substation Automation,” is a summary and reflects Pike Research’s current expectations based on market data and trend analysis. Market predictions and expectations are inherently uncertain and actual results may differ materially from those contained in this press release or the report. Please refer to the full report for a complete understanding of the assumptions underlying the report’s conclusions and the methodologies used to create the report. Neither Pike Research nor Navigant undertakes any obligation to update any of the information contained in this press release or the report.