Who is spending the most on the smart grid?

Thursday, 18 November 2010

Which countries are spending the most on the proposed environmentally friendly, low cost energy system known as the smart grid?

The smart grid is essentially an intelligent energy distribution system which communicates with household appliances to ensure a more efficient and cost effective distribution of electricity. Last week, energy company GE released details of a study into smart grid spending carried out by Zpryme Research and Consulting.

The study revealed that the top country in terms of US dollars invested into smart grid technology was China, which as of 2010, had invested $7.32 billion, roughly 5.4 billion euros. Second on the list was the United States with $7.09 billion, then Japan ($849 million), South Korea ($824 million), Spain ($807 million), Germany ($397 million), Australia ($360 million), United Kingdom ($290 million), France ($265 million) and finally Brazil with an investment totaling $204 million.

A number of surveys have shown that consumer opinion is divided over smart grid technology. However, despite any consumer misgiving, the European Union predicts an 80 percent roll-out of smart meters by 2020 and many household goods manufacturers including GE, Whirlpool Indesit have announced the development of smart grid-connected appliances. Indesit even began trialing 300 intelligent refrigerators throughout Britain and France in September of this year. The refrigerators are able to connect with the smart grid wireless network Zigbee and the company claims this will considerably reduce energy costs.

A report into the smart grid is available for free from the US Department of Energy at: http://cleantech.com/research/upload/2010-US-Smart-Grid-Vendor-Ecosystem-Report.pdf

A definition of the smart grid is available from the European Technology Platform for the Electricity Networks at: http://www.smartgrids.eu/?q=node/163