Installed Base of ZigBee-Enabled Smart Energy Devices to Surpass 219 Million Units Worldwide by 2020, Forecasts Navigant Research

BOULDER, Colo.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– In the last few years, devices based on ZigBee, the wireless communications technology, have gained significant momentum in the energy sector. Some leading U.S. utilities have deployed ZigBee-enabled smart meters, and have encouraged customers to purchase home area network (HAN) devices that can connect to such smart meters for improved energy management. ZigBee smart meter deployments are taking hold in other countries, such as australia and the United Kingdom, as well. According to a new report from Navigant Research, the worldwide installed base of ZigBee-enabled smart energy devices will grow from 39.5 million at the end of 2012 to 219.2 million devices by 2020.

“The forthcoming version of ZigBee, the Smart Energy Profile 2.0 software, is the first version to be Internet Protocol (IP)-based, allowing ZigBee devices to communicate with non-ZigBee devices, such as those using Wi-Fi or HomePlug,” says Neil Strother, senior research analyst with Navigant Research. “While this opens up a new world for ZigBee, it poses risks as other home networking technologies contend for relevance in energy management.”

In fact, most North American utilities that have deployed ZigBee radios in smart meters in recent years have yet to actually enable those radios. One reason is that few homes have HANs set up for the purposes of energy management and control, which the ZigBee energy software was designed to facilitate. Another reason, according to the report, is that utilities remain hesitant to become more active in providing products and services on the customer side of the meter. Consequently, the market for ZigBee-enabled energy products is at a crossroads.

The report, “ZigBee for Smart Energy”, analyzes the global market opportunity for ZigBee’s Smart Energy Profile, exploring key drivers and inhibitors shaping the market along with major technology issues. The report provides market forecasts through the end of the decade for shipments of ZigBee-enabled devices as well as for revenue from ZigBee modules and chips, segmented by region. Profiles of key industry players, analysis of regional trends, and a utility case study are also included. 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 …read more

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