Global smart meter installation to reach 535 million by 2015
August 27, 2011
According to a new report from Pike Research the global installed base of smart meters will reach 535 million units by 2015, significantly higher than the 2009 forecast of 251 million units. The largest contributor to this upgraded forecast is the strong adoption of smart meters in the Asia Pacific region, China in particular. Pike Research further projects that the installed base of smart meters will continue its growth beyond 2015, reaching 963 million units by 2020.
The adoption of smart meters is surging around the world, and electric utilities are accelerating their deployments of the devices, often as part of larger smart grid initiatives. Advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), which utilizes two-way communications networks and integrated intelligence to enable increased visibility and management of electricity usage, is envisioned by many utilities to be the foundation for a broad array of new energy efficiency and management services.
The growth of the industry will be by regional waves of adoption, beginning with the North American market, which will peak in 2012, followed by a peak in Asia Pacific in 2015, in Europe in 2017, and more gradual long-term growth in Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. It is anticipated that smart meters will represent the majority of all installed electrical meters by 2018, and the smart meter penetration rate will reach 59% by 2020.
