Smart solar has taken solar energy to the next level by providing the tools needed to monitor usage and increase efficiency, while at the same time making the switch to renewable resources seamless. According to analysts at Technavio, the global smart solar market, which was valued at $8.05 billion in 2015, will reach $16.35 billion by 2020, growing at a CAGR of just over 15%. In this blog, we cover both the key and prominent vendors in the market.
Key vendors in the global smart solar market
ABB
ABB (ASEA Brown Boveri) is a Swedish-Swiss multinational corporation headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland, operating mainly in robotics and the power and automation technology areas. ABB is one of the largest engineering companies as well as one of the largest conglomerates in the world. ABB has operations in around 100 countries, with approximately 135,000 employees in December 2015, and reported global revenue of $35.5 billion for 2015.
Echelon
Echelon Corporation is the pioneer in developing open-standard control networking platforms, delivering all the elements necessary to design, install, monitor, and control industrial-strength ‘communities of devices.’ Echelon’s technology platform is embedded in more than 100 million devices, 35 million homes, and 300,000 buildings worldwide.
GE Power
GE Power provides a broad array of power generation, energy delivery, and water process technologies. The company works in several areas of the energy industry, including renewable resources such as wind and solar, biogas and alternative fuels, and coal, oil, natural gas, and nuclear energy. It also develops advanced technologies to help solve some of the world’s most complex challenges related to water availability and quality. Headquartered in Schenectady, New York, GE Power is GE’s largest industrial business.
Schneider Electric
Schneider Electric SE is a French multinational corporation that specializes in electricity distribution, automation management and produces installation components for energy management. It is headquartered in Rueil-Malmaison, France and is also based at the World Trade Center of Grenoble. The company is a component of the Euro Stoxx 50 stock market index. Schneider Electric is a specialist in energy management and automation, and the parent company of Square D, Pelco, APC, and many others.
Siemens
Siemens is a global powerhouse focusing on the areas of electrification, automation and digitalization. One of the world’s largest producers of energy-efficient, resource-saving technologies, Siemens is a leading supplier of systems for power generation and transmission as well as medical diagnosis. In infrastructure and industry solutions, the company plays a pioneering role. As of September 30, 2015, Siemens had around 348,000 employees in more than 200 countries.
Other prominent vendors
Itron
Itron is an American technology company that offers products and services in energy and water resource management, which include technology solutions related to smart grid, smart gas and smart water that measure and analyze electricity, gas and water consumption, Its products include electricity, gas, water and thermal energy measurement devices and control technology; communications systems; software; as well as managed and consulting services. Itron has over 8,000 customers in more than 100 countries.
Landis+Gyr
Landis+Gyr is the global industry leader in metering solutions for electricity, gas, heat/cold and water for energy measurement solutions for utilities. Since 1896, the company has been helping customers overcome operational, regulatory and consumer driven challenges by capturing the advantages and benefits of technology. Focused on quality, reliability and innovation, the Group offers a complete portfolio of energy meters and integrated smart metering solutions, enabling utilities and end-users to make better use of scarce resources, save operating costs and protect the environment by managing energy better – and to build the smart grid.
Sensus USA
Sensus USA Inc. provides smart meters, communication systems, software, and services for electric, gas, and water industries worldwide. It offers data management solutions, such as FlexNet, a wide area advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) system that reads water, gas, and electric meters. The company also provides water management solutions, such as commercial and industrial water meters, metering solutions for heating and cooling, residential and submetering products, smart metering products, and test benches. As of yesterday, August 15th, Sensus is being acquired by Xylem Inc.
Silver Spring Networks
Silver Spring Networks helps global utilities and cities connect, optimize, and manage smart energy and smart city infrastructure. Since 2002, the company has been an established leader, innovating networking technologies to securely connect consumers and utility providers. Powerful and proven Silver Spring smart grid networks easily expand as needs evolve and enable utilities to gain operational efficiencies, improve grid reliability, and empower consumers to monitor and manage energy and water consumption. Silver Spring Networks is known for its IPv6 networking platform, with more than 22 million Silver Spring enabled devices delivered.
SolarCity
SolarCity is America’s #1 full-service solar provider. The company makes clean energy available to homeowners, businesses, schools, non-profits and government organizations at a lower cost than they pay for energy generated by burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas. Its approach is to install systems to the highest engineering standards while making the switch simple for our customers. SolarCity has revolutionized the way energy is delivered by giving customers a cleaner, more affordable alternative to their monthly utility bill.
Sunnova
Sunnova Energy Corp. provides solar power services to homes. It offers rooftop solar service to homeowners within and outside the United States through a network of local sales and installation partners. The company also provides third-party financing for solar leases or PPAs through a network of local solar installers. In addition, it offers solar system maintenance and warranty, monitoring and performance guarantee, insurance, and transfer of agreements.
Urban Green Energy International
With over 330 MW of experience worldwide, UGE provides full-service energy solutions to commercial and industrial clients using industry-leading technology. The company brings more affordable, sustainable, and reliable energy to your business through its solutions-based approach, engineering expertise, and focus on value.
Vivint Solar
Vivint Solar, Inc. is an American solar energy company. Vivint Solar operates in 12 states and has installed over 40,000 solar panel systems as of the end of March 2015. The company is considered to be a green home technology company and is the fastest growing solar energy company in the U.S. that uses the power purchase agreement (PPA) model.
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