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Power Distribution and Retail Digital Transformation Growth Opportunities
Shift Toward Multifunctional Cloud Platform Solutions Powers Future Growth Potential
20-Aug-2021
North America
Market Research
K60A-01-00-00-00
EG02170-NA-MT_25708
Digitalization is the key enabler of decentralization and decarbonization, the other two D’s shaping the energy industry transformation. Cloud computing, Big Data, analytics, and the Internet of Things (IoT) are among technologies that enable the digital transformation of electric utilities and facilitate new ways of electricity production, storage, distribution, and consumption.
As the backbone that integrates renewable energy, enables higher electrification rates, and manages multidirectional flows of distributed energy resources (DERs) and loads, digital investment in power distribution grids and retail is necessary for the energy transition. Market shifts and the proliferation of technologies, including smart appliances, electric mobility, and distributed solar and storage, are shaping future distribution utilities into highly flexible and strong decarbonization advocates. They are set to be key DER orchestrators and provide energy as a service bundled with related, value-added solutions tailored to users’ individual preferences.
To achieve the vision, power distribution and retail utilities focus their digital investment and efforts on three main areas to: a) enhance customer service and engagement levels; b) improve operational reliability and efficiency; and c) integrate and manage smart home technologies, DERs, and electric vehicles to provide value-added energy-related connected businesses.
Following this segmentation, this study provides regional forecasts and analyses of digital expenditure evolution in the next 10 years for Europe, North America, and Latin America. It also describes the main application areas, software, systems, and platforms used. The report presents the competitive landscape and trends and highlights growth opportunities regarding meter data usage, cloud computing, SaaS and XaaS business models, distributed cybersecurity, microservices, and distributed intelligence.
Author: Maria Benintende
Why is it Increasingly Difficult to Grow?
The Strategic Imperative 8™
The Impact of the Top 3 Strategic Imperatives on the Digital Transformation of the Power Distribution and Retail Market
Growth Opportunities Fuel the Growth Pipeline Engine™
Key Findings
Digital Expenditure Forecast
Distribution Companies are at the Center of the Energy Digital Transformation
The Future of Distribution Utilities and Retailers—A Vision to 2030
Digital Technologies and Market Shifts Driving the Distribution Utilities and Retailers of the Future
Growth Opportunities
Go-to-Market Recommendations for Vendors
Scope of Analysis
Core Investment Areas for Digital Transformation of Distribution Utilities and Retailers
Key Questions this Study Answers
Distribution Utilities and Retailers’ Top 10 Pain Points and Key Goals
Factors Influencing the Level of Digitalization in Power Distribution and Retail
Journey to Digitally-enabled Distribution Utilities—No Ideal Path
Digital Technology Focus
Growth Drivers
Growth Restraints
Digital Expenditure Forecast
Percent Digital Expenditure Forecast by Application Area
Digital Expenditure Forecast by Application Area
Expenditure Forecast Analysis—Digital Transformation in the Power Distribution and Retail Market
Expenditure Forecast Analysis—Digital Transformation in the Power Distribution and Retail Market (continued)
Vendor Ecosystem
Vendor Ecosystem Discussion
Partnerships and Companies to Watch
Enhanced Customer Relationships—Investment Areas
EN-techs—The Last Word in Customer Service
Annual Expenditure Forecast by Region—Enhanced Customer Relationships
Expenditure Forecast Analysis—Enhanced Customer Relationships
Enhanced Customer Relationships Regional Analysis
Enhanced Customer Relationships Regional Analysis (continued)
Grids Operations Optimization—Investment Areas
Software Platforms Toward a Single Solution for Digital Grids
Annual Expenditure Forecast by Region—Grid Operations Optimization
Expenditure Forecast Analysis—Grid Operations Optimization
Grid Operations Optimization Regional Analysis
Grid Operations Optimization Regional Analysis (continued)
The Imperatives of Connected Businesses for Utilities
Connected Businesses—Investment Areas
Connected Businesses—Transformation Scope
Annual Expenditure Forecast by Region—Connected Businesses
Expenditure Forecast Analysis—Connected Businesses
Connected Businesses—Regional Analysis
Connected Businesses—Regional Analysis (continued)
Growth Opportunity 1: Educating Utilities on Metering Data’s True Value
Growth Opportunity 1: Educating Utilities on Metering Data’s True Value (continued)
Growth Opportunity 2: Strengthen Cloud Computing Capabilities to Streamline Digital Transformation
Growth Opportunity 2: Strengthen Cloud Computing Capabilities to Streamline Digital Transformation (continued)
Growth Opportunity 3: Cloud-First Software Strategies for Greater Integration
Growth Opportunity 3: Cloud-First Software Strategies for Greater Integration (continued)
Growth Opportunity 4: Beyond SaaS—XaaS to Streamline Implementation of Digital Solutions
Growth Opportunity 4: Beyond SaaS—XaaS to Streamline Implementation of Digital Solutions (continued)
Growth Opportunity 5: Distributed Cybersecurity for Grid Reliability
Growth Opportunity 5: Distributed Cybersecurity for Grid Reliability (continued)
Growth Opportunity 6: Adoption of Microservices Architecture for Increased Software Flexibility
Growth Opportunity 6: Adoption of Microservices Architecture for Increased Software Flexibility (continued)
Growth Opportunity 7: Distributed Intelligence to Move from Sensing to Actuating
Growth Opportunity 7: Distributed Intelligence to Move from Sensing to Actuating (continued)
List of Exhibits
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