The number of smart meters worldwide will exceed 300 million in 2015

【Abstract】According to the latest survey data of Berg Insight, the Swedish market research company, it is estimated that by 2015, 300 million smart meters will be installed worldwide. By then, the market share of smart meters in the United States and Western Europe will increase from 15-20% to 50%, and Asia will also grow from less than 1% to 25%.

Now, more and more electronics and telecommunications giants are investing in the smart grid industry (such as Google and Microsoft). According to the latest survey data from Berg Insight, the Swedish market research company, it is estimated that by 2015, 300 million smart meters will be installed worldwide. By then, the market share of smart meters in the United States and Western Europe will increase from 15-20% to 50%, and Asia will also grow from less than 1% to 25%.

However, the survey also showed that the 300 million smart meters may not represent the development of the global smart grid. Although the "residential" seems to be fully prepared, the connection to the smart grid is not satisfactory. Many countries have not invested enough in this promising technology. Berg Insight pointed out that some regions in the world need to develop smart grids, including “strengthening the implementation of energy storage, renewable power generation and supply chain safety related policies in the power industry. The guiding role of national government energy policies is the key to the development of smart meters.”

Despite the relatively slow development of smart grids, some companies have already gone ahead of the government. Examples include Google’s PowerMeter monitoring software and Miscrosoft’s Hohm website, which can be installed on a home computer to refresh power consumption data at any time, or update the device’s recommendations by analyzing information provided by users and power companies (eg, replacing roof solar energy. Light panels, wind energy devices in the yard, etc.).

For now, these are good solutions, but the smart grid is a more complex system that will connect all power supply devices and promote the efficient use of energy. This is why it is so important to install smart meters, set standards, and advance technologies.