Smart grids are electricity networks that use advanced technologies to monitor and manage the transport of electricity from all generation sources to meet the varying electricity demands of end users.
Juniper Research predicts that cost savings from smart grid deployments will exceed $125 billion globally in 2027; increasing from just over $33 billion in 2022.
This 279% growth will be driven by rising energy prices, with smart grid technologies playing a critical role in increasing network efficiency and optimising resource management. Juniper Research identified abilities of AI-based analytics as crucial to maximising benefits of new renewable energy sources, by actively balancing load and optimising energy transmission.
Smart grid key to renewables-led future
The research identified smart grid deployments as key to the decarbonisation of electricity production. Smart grids will enable energy sources that produce electricity based on external elements, such as solar and wind power, to meet energy requirements more effectively, by actively balancing load and predicting surges in demand & production.
Research co-author Nick Maynard opined that leveraging AI will result in better prediction spikes in demand, and possibly mitigating these.
“Smart grid vendors must focus on enhancing their models to more accurately predict usage patterns to maximise these benefits.” Nick Maynard
Reducing emissions drives the market
The research predicts that smart grid deployments will result in an almost 700 million MMT (Million Metrics Tons) reduction in CO2e (Carbon Dioxide Equivalent) emissions globally in 2027; falling from 214 million in 2022.
The report anticipates that this will be central to meeting stringent climate change goals, alongside updating generation capabilities to feature more renewable sources, including wind and solar.
The research recommends that smart grid vendors must develop data ingestion engines that can analyse and interpret structured and unstructured data from disparate sources, including smart meters, network data and weather forecasts, to maximise emission reductions.
