June 7, 2006

 

 

Cost and energy savings are the biggest factors customers consider when deciding to invest in distributed energy (DE) technologies, a market study shows.

 

Customers look first at gaining economic advantage and potential payback, a survey by Distributed Energy Financial Group (http://www.defgllc.com/) and Market Strategies (http://www.marketstrategies.com/) found.

 

Cuts in energy costs come next -- with most customers looking for savings of 5-15%.

 

Customers look closely too at the amount of investment required and first-year cost.

 

Perceptions of where energy prices are headed and potential savings in operating costs are important as well, DEFG found.

 

Improved reliability, environmental benefits and reducing business risk rank lower among customers, the survey revealed.

 

Distributed energy is a grab bag of technologies including green power, DG, energy efficiency, advanced metering, demand management and back-up power.

 

Distributed energy technologies are likely to take off this year, most stakeholders agree -- particularly with large C&I customers.

 

The hot technologies will be load shifting, energy efficiency and wind, DEFG found.

Customers consider advanced metering to hold the most value while utilities value remote control devices.

 

Vendors and suppliers favor on-site generation while regulators are bullish on advanced meters and remote control devices.