This in-depth market data research is split into two key modules: Market Growth Outlook and Competitive Analysis. Each of these modules is further configured into several sub-modules to meet the needs of executives as well as marketing, sales, and product development managers. All of these modules and sub-modules may be purchased as a bundle or separately. A brief description of these modules, sub-modules, and their use cases is included below.
The Grid Automation Systems market research delivers current market analysis plus a five year market and technology forecast. The research is available in multiple editions including worldwide and all regions.
Grid Automation Evolves Due to the Energy Transition
Recent research by ARC Advisory Group indicates that the monitoring and control of power transmission and distribution is evolving due to the shift toward more distributed generation. This includes the growth of solar, wind, and battery power, while fossil generation is being retired and nuclear power remains flat. The grid automation market is strongest in regions that are building new electric grids or making major system upgrades or repairs due to weather events or wars that target and damage electric distribution systems. There is substantial growth in grid automation software, hardware, and services due to a changing mix of generation, new grid storage assets, and new market structures such as virtual power plants and support for demand response.
Grid Automation Strategic Issues
In addition to providing a five-year market forecast, the Grid Automation Market Research provides detailed quantitative current market data and addresses key strategic issues as follows.
Go Beyond the Digital Substation
While there is no single, universally accepted definition of a "digital substation", the core concept revolves around replacing traditional copper wiring and analog communication with digital communication based on standardized protocols. IEC 61850 provides that foundation. IEC 61850 provides the backbone for building a truly interoperable, flexible, and intelligent digital substation, but the complexities of operating a grid today require more than just the backbone and needs an integrated intelligent and secure suite of software that meets your carefully crafted requirements.
Most, if not all new substation installations worldwide will be implemented as digital substations using process bus technology that connects IEDs with fiber optic Ethernet. The days of analog signals for critical measuring and safety devices is long gone. That is not to say that analog signals are not involved, as they too can be collected and communicated via IEC 61850 process bus technology or via SCADA systems. SCADA systems at the substation level are also a part of the digital substation; SCADA connectivity to remote control centers is still common even though fast, secure, bi-directional 61850 communications from substation to and from grid control centers is possible. Retrofitting substations to process bus technology should be a planned activity with a final architecture in mind. New equipment can be compliant to process bus technology. Existing SCADA systems should be able to communicate with process bus protocol without major changes and IED devices can be gradually transitioned as older equipment is replaced. Based on a sound business case, any major upgrade to feeders and loads might be an opportunity to digitize the whole substation. In the configuration of IEDs, use a standard template to ensure that all the capability is configured and all the data that might be of use at grid control centers is collected.
Digital substations enable electric power utilities to increase productivity, reduce footprint, increase functionality, improve asset reliability, and crucially improve safety for service personnel. Digital substations exploit the benefits of digital protection, control, and communication technologies, mirroring the trend toward digitalization as seen in many other industries.
Make Cybersecurity a Top Priority
The ability of a cyberattack to gain access to a grid asset, block, or modify data from a substation, a microgrid, or a field device is an obvious concern for the utility and the asset owner. Part of the solution is physical security, but the screening and training of responsible personnel is essential. Protection relays act locally, but their programming might be subject to tampering, particularly if this programming is done remotely. Wind turbines can be remote and are typically completely accessible for programming changes including updating firmware from secure remote locations. Control system networks for substations and microgrids should generally be isolated from corporate business networks and remote access security should follow industry guidelines and best practices, as well as comply to all NERC requirements. Attacks on critical IT infrastructure, such as the recent Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack are also of great concern and plans must be put in place to quickly recover from failures and malicious damage.
Preparing for a cybersecurity attack must therefore be an integral part of IT and OT organizations. And it must be fully embedded within the organizational psyche—from the boardroom and senior executives to the newest employee.
Market Data Research Available Datasets
Market Growth Outlook
ARC’s market growth outlook service delivers an in-depth market opportunity analysis including five-year market and technology forecasts and 3-year history trend lines where available. Besides providing an in-depth analysis of the market opportunity provided by each technology, this service allows technology suppliers to analyze their own customized markets consisting of multiple technologies. For example, customers can view different market scenarios by adding or removing technology markets from the analysis, providing them a Total Available Market (TAM) view of their own served market. A list of the available market growth outlook services can be seen in the list below.
This service is designed to help accelerate your organization's ability to understand an up-to-date view of the market opportunity provided by your current product portfolio and analyze how your company’s market opportunity would change if you were to acquire or divest a particular product line. The service will also help you identify and capitalize on emerging markets, whether these markets are based on an emerging technology, region, vertical industry, or application. Built upon a proprietary market model and ARC’s field proven primary research, this service helps product and marketing managers optimize their business plans by identifying the opportunities provided by emerging trends. ARC’s reputation as the preeminent independent provider of market growth opportunity analyses for nearly four decades also provides greater weight to your business plans. ARC’s market growth outlook services are available in a variety of formats depending on whether you view your market opportunities via different technologies, industries, or world regions.
In addition, ARC has a strong history of providing customized market opportunity reports and services to meet your specific needs. For example, you may sell your products only to specific industries and/or in only one or two regions. You tell us your served markets and ARC can quickly configure a report or service designed to best serve your served market.
ARC provides several versions of these reports and services depending on your role in the organization. Executive Views are high level market opportunities designed to help executives quickly identify key trends and market opportunities around the world. In-depth market opportunity analyses provide marketing and product managers more detailed technology specific market information to plan marketing and product development strategies. The following table shows more specific information included in each version.
| Market Growth Outlook Analysis | Use Cases | Target Role |
| Worldwide Market Growth Outlook by Industry & Region with 3-year history where available | In-depth technology-specific strategic growth planning across multiple technologies, applications, regions, and industries | Product & Marketing Managers |
| Worldwide Industry Growth Outlook by Region with 3-year history where available | Strategic technology growth planning for markets defined by a single or multiple vertical industries | Industry Managers |
| Regional/Country Market Growth Outlook by Technology & Industry with 3-year history where available (includes country data) | Strategic technology growth planning for markets defined by a single or multiple world regions | Regional & Country Sales Managers |
| Market Growth Outlook Executive View | Strategic Total Available Market (TAM) growth planning dashboard covering multiple vertical industries, technologies, and world regions | Executives |
Market Competitive Analysis
ARC’s Competitive Analysis services deliver in depth competitive analyses across multiple technologies, applications, regions, and industries. Besides providing an in-depth analysis of the market opportunity provided by each technology, this service allows technology suppliers to analyze their own customized markets consisting of multiple technologies. For example, customers can view different market scenarios by adding or removing technology markets from the analysis, providing them a Total Available Market (TAM) view of their own served market. A list of the available market growth outlook services can be seen in the list below.
This service is designed to help product and marketing managers identify their company’s market positioning across multiple views within their Serviceable Available Market (SAM). Built upon a proprietary market model and ARC’s field proven primary research, this service helps product and marketing managers optimize their business plans by identifying how their company’s market position would change if the company were to acquire or divest a particular product line or technology. ARC’s reputation as the preeminent independent provider of competitive market benchmarking for nearly four decades lends greater weight to your business plans. ARC’s market competitive services are available in a variety of formats depending on whether you view your market opportunities via different technologies, industries, or world regions.
In addition, ARC has a strong history of providing customized market opportunity reports and services to meet the specific needs of our clients. For example, you may sell your products only to specific industries and/or in only one or two regions. You tell us your served markets and ARC can quickly configure a report or service designed to best serve your served market.
ARC provides several versions of these reports and services depending on your role in the organization. Executive Views are high level market competitive analyses designed to help executives quickly assess their SAM by world region, technology, or vertical industry. In-depth competitive market analyses provide marketing and product managers more detailed technology specific benchmarking information to plan marketing and product development strategies. The following table shows more specific information included in each version.
| Competitive Analysis | Use Cases | Target Role |
| Worldwide Competitive Analysis by Technology | In-depth competitive market analysis that quantifies how your company’s market position has changed over time across multiple technologies, applications, regions, and industries | Product & Marketing Managers |
| Worldwide Competitive Analysis by Industry | Strategic technology-based competitive analyses for markets defined by a single or multiple vertical industries | Industry Managers |
| Regional/Country Competitive Analysis by Industry | Strategic technology-based competitive analyses for markets defined by a single or multiple world regions | Regional Sales Managers |
| Competitive Analysis Executive View | Strategic Serviceable Available Market (SAM) analysis dashboard covering multiple vertical industries, technologies, and world regions | Executives |
Worldwide Research Focus Areas
Worldwide Research Focus Areas
Strategic Analysis
- Executive Summary
- Market Trends
- Buyer Strategies
- Supplier Strategies
- Growth Contributors
- Growth Inhibitors
Competitive Analysis
- Market Shares of the Leading Suppliers
- Market Shares by Region
- Asia
- EMEA
- Latin America
- North America
- Market Shares by Revenue Category
- Hardware Revenues
- Software Revenues
- Service Revenues
- Market Shares by Hardware Type
- Actuation
- Application Processor
- HMI/GUI
- Measurement
- PLC, DCS, Controller
- RTU, MTU, I/O Subsystem
- Wired Network
- Wireless Network
- Market Shares by Software Type
- AI Support Applications
- DERMS
- Digital Twin
- DMS/ADMS
- GEO/GIS
- Grid Control and Management
- OMS
- Real Time Historian
- Substation Automation
- TMS/EMS
- Market Shares by Service Type
- Control and SCADA
- Design Services for Automation
- Microgrid Automation
- Substation Automation Services
- Support Services
- Market Shares by Grid Location
- Distribution
- Generation
- Microgrid
- Transmission
- Market Shares by Site Type
- Distribution Lines
- Generation Substation
- Industrial Substation
- LV Distribution Substation
- Microgrid Site
- MV Distribution Substation
- Renewable or Battery Power Distribution
- Transmission Lines
- Transmission Substation
- Market Shares by Project Size
- Large Projects
- Medium Projects
- Small Projects
- Market Shares by Project Type
- New
- Retrofit
- Market Shares by Sales Channel
- Direct Sales
- Distributors
- Independent Representatives
- Market Shares by Customer Type
- Industrial, Commercial, or Private Owner
- Large Investor Owned Utilities
- Municipal, or Co-op Utilities
- Original Equipment Manufacturers
- State Owned Utilities
- Systems Integrators
Market Forecast and Histories
- Total Grid Automation Business
- Shipments by Region
- Asia
- EMEA
- Latin America
- North America
- Shipments by Revenue Category
- Hardware Revenues
- Software Revenues
- Service Revenues
- Shipments by Hardware Type
- Actuation
- Application Processor
- HMI/GUI
- Measurement
- PLC, DCS, Controller
- RTU, MTU, I/O Subsystem
- Wired Network
- Wireless Network
- Shipments by Software Type
- AI Support Applications
- DERMS
- Digital Twin
- DMS/ADMS
- GEO/GIS
- Grid Control and Management
- OMS
- Real Time Historian
- Substation Automation
- TMS/EMS
- Shipments by Service Type
- Control and SCADA
- Design Services for Automation
- Microgrid Automation
- Substation Automation Services
- Support Services
- Shipments by Grid Location
- Distribution
- Generation
- Microgrid
- Transmission
- Shipments by Site Type
- Distribution Lines
- Generation Substation
- Industrial Substation
- LV Distribution Substation
- Microgrid Site
- MV Distribution Substation
- Renewable or Battery Power Distribution
- Transmission Lines
- Transmission Substation
- Shipments by Project Size
- Large Projects
- Medium Projects
- Small Projects
- Shipments by Project Type
- New
- Retrofit
- Shipments by Sales Channel
- Direct Sales
- Distributors
- Independent Representatives
- Shipments by Customer Type
- Industrial, Commercial, or Private Owner
- Large Investor Owned Utilities
- Municipal, or Co-op Utilities
- Original Equipment Manufacturers
- State Owned Utilities
- Systems Integrators
Industry Participants
Profiles of the major suppliers servicing this market are included.
Regional Research Focus Areas
Strategic Analysis
Competitive Analysis
- Leading Suppliers in Region
- Industry Shares in Region
- Country Shares in Region
- Leading Suppliers by Industry
Market Forecast Analysis
- Market Forecast and History by Country
- Market Forecast and History by Industry
Industry Participants
List of countries & currencies included in each region: MIRA-Country
For More Information
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