Market Trends of South Africa Smart Grid Industry
This section covers the major market trends shaping the South Africa Smart Grid Network Market according to our research experts:
Advanced Metering Infrastructure to Witness a Significant Growth
- Advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) or smart metering is an integrated system of smart meters, communications networks, and data management systems that enables two-way communication between utilities and customers.
- South Africa has witnessed growth in electricity production until 2018, which is expected to grow in the forecast period. With 250 TWh in 2015 to 256 TWh in 2018, electricity production has increased the demand for smart grid and smart meters as well.
- With the increasing efforts to modernize the electricity grid and reduce transmission and distribution losses, the government across South Africa is investing in advanced metering infrastructure. This, in turn, is expected to drive the AMI market during the forecast period.
South African Smart Grid Vision and Renewable Energy to Drive the Market
- South Africa introduced a Smart grid vision to define a standard national blueprint for the smart grid before industry stakeholders and participants commit to an investment program of this magnitude and complexity.
- South African National Energy Development Institution is a separate body working with industry to provide policy inputs, address the gaps in standards, and the deployment and application of technology in smart grid deployment.
- In November 2017, South Africa and the European Union established a dialogue facility project in the review of the existing Smart Grid Vision document, consultative workshops, and a study tour to experience first-hand integrated deployments of smart grids within distribution networks.
- With the development of renewable energy sources, installed capacity of more than 2700 MW in 2014 and 6167 MW by the end of 2019, the demand for the smart grid has increased. With further renewable growth in the forecast period, the market is expected to grow significantly.
- The aim of the South African government to electrify the country entirely by 2030, and with the initiatives mentioned above, the market is expected to grow considerably.