During the last few years, the pace of microgrid deployment has accelerated rapidly around the world, in a variety of application segments. Now, the industry is moving into the next phase of project development, focusing on how to develop projects on commercially viable terms. Click to tweet: According to a new report from Navigant Research, worldwide vendor revenue from microgrids will grow from $4.3 billion in 2013 to $19.9 billion in 2020, in the base scenario.

Under a more aggressive scenario, revenue could reach $36.2 billion annually, the study concludes.

“Microgrids are inching their way into the mainstream, with the focus of the market shifting from technology validation to questions surrounding the most promising business models,” says Peter Asmus, principal research analyst with Navigant Research. “The number of companies active in the space, and the range of applications of microgrids, are growing exponentially, yet there is little consensus on the pace of development in the coming years.”

It has become clear that today’s modern, digital economy requires a more advanced, robust, and responsive power grid framework than what currently exists, especially in the United States, the world’s leading market for microgrids. According to statistics from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 80 percent to 90 percent of all grid failures begin at the distribution level of electricity service. This is the exact portion of the power system where microgrids operate, according to the report, bolstering reliability from the bottom up, rather than from the top down.

The report, “Microgrids”, analyzes the global market for microgrids in five key segments (commercial/industrial, community/utility, campus/institutional, military, and remote) and two new subsegments (grid-tied UDMs and DC microgrids). The report provides an analysis of the market issues, including business cases, opportunities, and implementation challenges, associated with microgrids. Global market forecasts for capacity and revenue, broken out by scenario, segment, region, country, and U.S. state, extend through 2020. The report also examines the main technologies related to microgrids, identifies nine different business models applicable to microgrid development, and profiles key market players. An Executive Summary of the report is available for free download on the Navigant Research website.

About Navigant Research

Navigant Research, the dedicated research arm of Navigant, provides market research and benchmarking services for rapidly changing and often highly regulated industries. In the energy sector, Navigant Research focuses on in-depth analysis and reporting about global clean technology markets. The team’s research methodology combines supply-side industry analysis, end-user primary research and demand assessment, and deep examination of technology trends to provide a comprehensive view of the Smart Energy, Smart Utilities, Smart Transportation, and Smart Buildings sectors. Additional information about Navigant Research can be found at www.navigantresearch.com.

About Navigant

Navigant is a specialized, global expert services firm dedicated to assisting clients in creating and protecting value in the face of critical business risks and opportunities. Through senior level engagement with clients, Navigant professionals combine technical expertise in Disputes and Investigations, Economics, Financial Advisory and Management Consulting, with business pragmatism in the highly regulated Construction, Energy, Financial Services and Healthcare industries to support clients in addressing their most critical business needs. More information about Navigant can be found at www.navigant.com.

* The information contained in this press release concerning the report, “Microgrids,” is a summary and reflects Navigant Research’s current expectations based on market data and trend analysis. Market predictions and expectations are inherently uncertain and actual results may differ materially from those contained in this press release or the report. Please refer to the full report for a complete understanding of the assumptions underlying the report’s conclusions and the methodologies used to create the report. Neither Navigant Research nor Navigant undertakes any obligation to update any of the information contained in this press release or the report.