Global New Capacity Deployments of Distributed Energy Resources Are Outpacing the Deployment of New Centralized Generation Capacity

Impact on incumbent utility revenue will become more pronounced as deployments of distributed generation, plug-in electric vehicles, and demand response gain more traction

Apr 04, 2019

A new report from Navigant Research provides capacity and revenue forecasts for 12 leading distributed energy resources (DER) technology markets globally.

The global electric power industry is facing a transformation from centralized generation toward a more decentralized grid with two-way energy flows, known as the Energy Cloud. This mix of DER technology and smart grid solutions is poised to disrupt traditional utility models for end consumers, and it will be among the most disruptive trends to the traditional energy industry over the next decade. Click to tweet: According to a new report from @NavigantRSRCH, new global DER capacity deployments—including distributed generation, DER, plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) charging load, demand response, and energy efficiency—are outpacing the deployment of new centralized generation capacity.

“Most energy companies and utilities are already wrestling with revenue erosion due to energy efficiency, demand-side optimization, and solar PV,” says Pritil Gunjan, senior research analyst at Navigant Research. “As deployments of distributed generation and energy storage, PEVs, and demand response gain further traction, the impact on incumbent revenue will become more pronounced.”

Declining technology costs and innovative long-term price-based instruments support the ongoing development and grid parity of DER globally, according to the report. While DER also supports electrification needs for onsite generation, new additions of centralized generation technologies greatly influence the proportion of DER technologies in the system.

The report, Global DER Deployment Database, covers DER technologies grouped in six distinct parts of the value chain that generate, manage, and consume electricity. The study provides technology capacity and revenue forecasts for 12 leading DER technology markets globally. It provides data on countries and regions where the proliferation of these resources is expected to have the greatest influence by 2028, segmented by residential and other end consumers. The latter segment includes commercial, industrial, community/multifamily, institutional, military, and remote installations, grouped under the commercial and industrial (C&I) category in this report. An Executive Summary of the report is available for free download on the Navigant Research website.

Contact:

Lindsay Funicello-Paul

+1.781.270.8456

lindsay.funicello.paul@navigant.com

* The information contained in this press release concerning the report, Global DER Deployment Database, is a summary and reflects Navigant 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 Navigant Research nor Navigant undertakes any obligation to update any of the information contained in this press release or the report.