E-mobility and EVs. Smart charging and Vehicle-to-Grid. ACES*... I think it's fair to say that over the last 2-3 years, these terms have - to a greater or lesser extent - become a common part of everyday vocabulary if you are in any way interested in the future of the energy industry.   

And for good reason. At the end of 2013, there were around 123,000 plug-in electric vehicles on Europe's roads. Today, that number is more than 1.5 million, rising all the time, and they all need charging up occasionally**.   

 

Microgrids are coming.

This week,  Wärtsilä announced the acquisition of Greensmith Energy, the US-based system integrator and software company which specialises in developing grid-scale energy storage solutions. This move marks the latest milestone for Wärtsilä as they continue to diversify into hybrid power solutions (and microgrids), including the integration of solar PV and energy storage alongside their traditional engine-based power generation offerings. The acquisition is expected to be completed in July 2017.

In April last year, Wärtsilä announced that it would enter the solar energy business by offering utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) solutions. The new solutions included solar PV power plants of 10 MWe and above, and hybrid power plants comprising solar PV installations and internal combustion engines. Both solutions are offered with full engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) capability. Wärtsilä has previously set a target of delivering 200 MWe of solar installations by 2018. It’s not clear whether this target will be revised following the acquisition. What is clear, however, is that Wärtsilä is serious about hybrids and moving outside their comfort zone of manufacturing and selling engines.

Germany’s ‘Energiewende’ (Energy Transition) is well publicised, and frequently referenced, as an example of how to (or not, depending on your point of view!) transform a country’s energy system away from low efficiency, high-carbon energy and towards an environmentally friendly, reliable energy system.

One of the fundamental pillars of the Energiewende is a support framework for renewable electricity generation. In the early 1990s, renewables accounted for less than 5% of yearly electricity generated in Germany. Today, the figure stands at around 35% - and the future direction of travel is clear.

Our research suggests that Mexico will become a ‘Global Top 10’ market for gas engines by 2020

Mexico’s energy reform is likely to herald increased activity in the field of distributed power. Since the Mexican government passed an historic energy bill in December 2013 - paving the way for deregulation of the electricity sector and bringing to an end state-owned CFE’s monopoly of the market - Delta-ee has witnessed growing evidence that Mexico is currently undergoing a period of sustained market growth, particularly in the field of stationary power gas engines.

The latest report from the Distributed Power Service shows that the global market for reciprocating gas engines used within stationary power applications is set for strong growth over the next five years. Our Global Gas Engine Statistics Report forecasts that for gas engines sized 400 kWe and above, the market will increase from 4.6 GWe in 2014 to 7.0 GWe by 2020, at a compound annual growth rate of over 7%.


Falling oil and gas prices help, but global economic expansion and ‘green’ drivers underpin our forecast for global gas engine sales. Our research has identified very different drivers and trends in key markets such as Germany, UK, USA, Brazil, Japan and China.

Throughout 2014 we have been researching in great detail the major global and emerging markets for gas engines. We found that nine countries make up more than half of the world’s gas engine market – these countries have been the focus of our research. 

Delta-ee’s Global Gas Engine Statistics Report details the key market drivers which are set to stimulate this growth, and provides detailed segmentation of sales data and forecasts, broken down by 6 global regions, 9 countries, and 6 size bands. For more information on our report, download this free Whitepaper, or contact John Murray at john.murray@delta-ee.com.