Clean microgrids US$350b industry

Huge US350 billion growth in ‘clean’ microgrids to 2040 is forecast by market research firm IDTechEx.

It will be driven by legislation, cost, increasing problems with national grids and many new applications. Electrifying mines to farms and transport helps too, IDTechEx chairman Dr Peter Harrop says.

A 230-page IDTechEx report he authored, Distributed Generation: Off-Grid Zero-Emission kW-MW 2020-2040

, studies electricity production with zero emissions that is off-grid or capable of being off-grid when needed.

“This is the future of much electric power generation, displacing heating oil to power stations,” Harrop says.

“Distributed generation capable of being islanded is a significant new market opportunity.”

The report covers more than 100 organisations and provides technical, market and company information for all in the value chain from materials and software suppliers to developers, product and system integrators and facilities managers.

It considers benefits to society and opportunities for industry.

The executive summary and conclusions cover market drivers, including why grids lose share and outlines why 2021 will be a big year for orders and advances.

The future of zero-emission electricity for buildings, construction, agriculture, mining, electric vehicle charging stations, ships and more is examined.

Microgrids involve more than just wind and solar, with other forms such as river and sea power studied too.

“Emerging photovoltaic technology for microgrids” is one of the longest chapters, including covering single crystal silicon and copper indium gallium diselenide.

All-in-all, zero emission microgrids are the future for power generation, IDTechEx says.