While much of the smart grid development in Europe
mirrors programs underway in North America and other parts of the globe, there
are important differences in priorities and emphasis. In particular, aggressive
goals for energy efficiency and carbon emissions reductions are major drivers
for smart grid and smart meter deployments in Europe.

Over the next five to 10 years, these deployments will be
closely linked with the achievement of 2020 carbon reduction goals in the
European Union. According to a recent report from Pike Research,
cumulative investment in smart grid technologies within the region will total
$80.3 billion by 2020. In addition, the cleantech market intelligence firm
anticipates that by 2020, 238.4 million smart meters will have been deployed
across Europe.

Smart grid development is really part of a unique
transformation taking place across European energy networks, industry, and
society over the next 40 years. The smart grid is at the heart of energy and
environmental policies that cover 27 countries and 500 million people,” said
Eric Woods, senior analyst.

While Germany, the largest electricity market in the EU,
supports a wide range of smart grid and smart meter pilots, little has happened
in the way of a large-scale deployment. In Sweden, by contrast, an early
commitment to smart metering has led to a prominent position in the overall
European smart grid movement.

The implementation of a continent-wide smart grid
requires a systemic view that can grasp both interrelated technological and
market issues and the challenges of integrating widely varying national
systems.

Among the critical issues to be addressed is the
development of European standards for smart meters and smart grid deployments,
the demonstrated ability to address privacy and security concerns, the creation
of a realistic roadmap for large-scale deployment, and the formulation of suitable
investment and incentive models by regulators.

By Telecomlead.com Team
[email protected]