Intelligent Grid Market Forecast to Take Off in 2010

Taipei, Dec. 18, 2009 (CENS)--In light of determined intelligent-grid plans announced by the United States, Europe Union, Japan and mainland China, Taiwan's manufacturers estimated the market would grow until at least 2020 after it begins to take off in 2010.

Industry executives estimated the market would bring fortunes to not only manufacturers of electricity meters, transformers, grid systems, power-transmission systems, and wireless networks but also manufacturers of renewable equipment like solar cells and wind turbines.

In Taiwan, manufacturers in the supply chain include intelligent-meter makers Shihlin Electric, Allis Electric, Chung Hsin Electric & Machinery Mfg., and Fortune Electric as well as suppliers of intelligent-grid systems like Gemtek Technology, SerComm, Edimax Technology, and AcBel Polytech.

GemTek's executives pointed out that for network-communication industry the business opportunities in intelligent-grid business are mostly created by intelligent grid networks and detectors. They said the company is actively developing wireless-transmission modules for uses in intelligent-grid systems of North America.

SerComm has finished the development in cooperation with European electricity companies on a power-management system, which is designed to analyze state of household electricity consumption through transmission management network. It is delivering the system. The company's executives noted that intelligent grid products would become a major driver of the company's revenue.

Edimax has begun delivering wireless-transmission modules for the grid network's intelligent meters. The company estimates countries with intelligent-grid projects will need three to five years to replace intelligent meters for traditional meters.

AcBel Polytech has recently branched out into intelligent-grid segment and is developing intelligent meter, and powerline communication (PLC) system.

Industry watchers suggest that the island's manufacturers should carve out niche in intelligent-grid market with products like intelligent meters and wireless transmission systems as they are not able to compete against big players like Intel and Cisco for contracts for the core units of intelligent-grid systems.