[December 07, 2012]

Nearly 150,000 Electric Utility Substations Will Be Automated or Modernized by 2020, According to Pike Research

The convergence of key technology developments, stronger business cases, and growing regulatory acceptance is accelerating grid modernization. Substations and the increasingly automated and intelligent gear embedded within them will play a critical role in this transformation. According to a recent report from Pike Research, a part of Navigant's Energy Practice, more than 10,000 substations worldwide will be automated (including both new construction and retrofits of existing facilities) in 2012. That number will surpass 20,000 annually by 2020, the study concludes, leading to a cumulative total of nearly 150,000 substations automated or retrofitted from 2012 to 2020.

"Key challenges such as outage management and recovery, increasingly complex system operations, and equipment management all suggest real growth in the coming years in the market for next-generation substation intelligence and data management," says senior research director Bob Gohn. "While the trend toward infrastructure modernization will continue, growth will inevitably begin to decelerate somewhat over time as automation technologies reach a high level of installed base penetration."

Even as more substations are automated as part of overall grid modernization efforts, the nature of this automation will continue to evolve. Basic remote monitoring and control of substation equipment is evolving toward more integrated systems that can leverage other smart grid technologies, such as distribution automation systems, smart metering, and advanced data analytics software within utility control centers. These mre integrated uses are still in the early days of their evolution, according to the report.

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 (News - Alert)

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.

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