By 2030, it’s estimated that utilities worldwide will spend $378 billion (USD) to build Smart Grids, according to Innovation Observatory, and 80 percent of that spending will be concentrated in 10 countries. Major spenders will include the U.S., Brazil, India, China and several European nations. It’s also predicted that transmission and distribution (T&D) grid modernization -- including Smart Grid -- will represent the single largest investment in the global energy infrastructure sector for the next 20 years. 

The opportunity for Smart Grid business and technology innovation is clearly tremendous.

While much of Smart Grid implementation is similar across the globe, the nature of conducting business in different regulatory environments and economies (i.e. established versus emerging) is often quite different. For companies to be successful in exporting technology solutions, they must have a heightened global Smart Grid awareness.

The U.S. Department of Commerce and U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) have taken an increased interest in fostering much-needed dialogue around Smart Grid business opportunities and innovation needs internationally. In the U.S., opportunities for Smart Grid vendors to supply solutions to emerging and established markets are great and could provide a much-needed economic boost -- including jobs. To do so successfully, global players must understand the key issues related to:

  • The way forward for global Smart Grid deployments -- Global players must understand the macro economic, societal, environmental and political trends driving Smart Grid implementation. 
  • Emerging markets -- With huge investments happening in fast-growing economies like India and Brazil, it’s important for technology companies to understand the unique business environments of these regions. Brazil is expecting to install 63 million smartmeters by 2021, and India has plans for 130 million smart meters, and these are only small parts of their individual Smart Grid stories. With such tremendous global business potential, the time is now to get a “MBA” in international Smart Grid opportunities.  
  • Collaboration on standards -- With work being done in the U.S. by organizations like the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and Smart Grid Interoperability Panel (SGIP), as well as international standards bodies, like the IEC, it’s critical for companies to understand the status of standards development to deploy workable solutions globally.
  • International deployment experience -- Detailed lessons from the field will be critical for future deployment success in the U.S. and abroad.

In just a few short weeks, GridWeek in Washington, D.C., will become the capital of global Smart Grid dialogue. The Smart Grid International Summit on Sept. 12 will address the critical topics above, while the entire GridWeek conference will provide international delegates with deployment experiences from more than 30 Smart Grid projects across the U.S. told by 60 participating utility speakers.

Delegates from many of the top-investing Smart Grid nations will also be present at GridWeek, including major representation from India -- where electricity sector spending is expected at over $400 billion (USD) in the next six years -- as well as Brazil, Korea, Japan, France, Italy, Africa and more.

A tribute to GridWeek’s role in Smart Grid advancement, three high-level, energy-focused government dignitaries from India -- including the highest level cabinet member, KC Venugopal, Minister of State for Power, India’s Ministry of Power -- will shed light on Smart Grid opportunities in this unique market. More than a dozen chief executives from Indian utilities will also be present.

International collaboration is key for Smart Grid success, and GridWeek 2011 provides the global forum for international best-practice sharing, problem-solving, and networking.

Hope to see you Sept. 12-15, 2011, at GridWeek in Washington, D.C.