SCADA Systems for Electric Power Industry

The SCADA Systems for Electric Power Industry market research study delivers current market analysis plus a five year market and technology forecast. The study is available in multiple editions including worldwide, all regions, and most major countries

The SCADA for electric power transmission and distribution (T&D) market consists of hardware, software, and services.  Hardware includes PLCs, industrial PCs, controllers, RTUs, IEDs, MTUs, and communication devices, but excludes transformers, voltage regulators, and metering for billing purposes.  The ARC SCADA Systems for Electric Power report focuses on operational technology, which includes operational execution systems, interaction with wholesale energy, and ancillary services markets, but excludes billing metering or software. SCADA Systems for electric power includes:

• Substation automation at generation, transmission and distribution locations
• EMS (Energy Management Systems) and TMS (Transmission Management Systems)
• DMS (Distribution Management Systems) and ADMS (Advanced Distribution Management Systems)
• OMS (Outage Management Systems)
• DRMS (Distributed Resource Management System), and DERMS (Distributed Energy Resource Management Systems)
• HMI (Human Machine Interface)/GUI (Graphical User Interface) and data logging
• Engineering and support services including design, simulation, programming, communications, training, and maintenance support

SCADA Systems for Electric Power: Digitizing Electric Grids Worldwide

The growth in the SCADA for electric power market is impacted by rapid electrification especially in China, but also due to growth in India which added significant new generation capacity and power transmission and distribution in the past decade.  China, India, Southeast Asia, and other countries that have growing economies are building new generation, transmission, and distribution systems which need T&D SCADA for operations.  The power generation capacity in developed countries remains relatively flat.  Power generation in China caught up with the US in 2010, but less than 10 years later (2019) they generate more than 81% more power than the US and they continue to add significant new generation, transmission, and distribution capacity.

The SCADA for electric power market, including hardware, software, and services, is managing electric power systems that are seeing disruptive changes in the generation sector.  New renewable generation is a significant part of the electric power growth in Asia, while coal plants remain in operation. However, in developed countries, new renewable generation and natural gas power is expanding, while coal generation is in sharp decline.  Nuclear power dipped sharply in 2011 after Fukushima and has seen a slight worldwide increase in the past few years as new nuclear power plants came online and slightly exceeded retiring plants.  In many countries, rooftop solar and private ownership of solar, wind, and energy storage has increased.  These assets are not directly controlled by utilities, but they have a big impact on grid operations and require monitoring and control by T&D SCADA systems.

The software applications used in T&D SCADA systems can be built by utilities, SCADA suppliers, or by third party software and service suppliers.  These applications are increasingly important for stable grid operation(s).  New applications and decision support packages such as ADMS, DERMS, OMS, and EMS are driving customer value and growth.

SCADA Systems for Electric Power Industry Strategic Issues

In addition to providing a five-year market forecast, the SCADA Systems for Electric Power market research includes profiles of key suppliers and provides detailed quantitative current market data. The report addresses key strategic issues as follows.

Electric Grid in China and Other Asian Countries Is Growing Strongly 

The SCADA Systems for Electric Power report describes why different regions are experiencing different growth patterns.  The report covers suppliers worldwide. 

Impact of COVID-19

COVID-19 is impacting the architecture of T&D SCADA networks as more remote workstation access is needed by engineers, operations, and maintenance staff that no longer have direct access to operational control rooms.  The SCADA Systems for Electric Power report provides unique insights into the impacts of COVID-19 on the market.

Renewable Generation, the Fastest Growing Source of New Power 

All energy systems will require the utility industry to make near carbon-free electric power before transportation, buildings, and industries can transition away from fossil fuels and use clean electric power, as the world is starting to recognize the importance of decarbonization. The report discusses the complex interplay of economics, utility regulations, and technology that are impacting the future of the electric grid.

Operational Software Execution Systems Are Complex

With so much new non-dispatchable solar and wind power and the massive expansion of lithium battery production, there are new obstacles and opportunities to ensure a stable electric grid that can meet an increasingly complex load profile.  New software applications such as ADMS, DERMS, OMS, and EMS are helping utilities make the best use of assets and helping this segment avoid costly and unnecessary new peaking power plants and associated transmission upgrades. 

Aging T&D SCADA Systems Need Upgrades to Include New Data

Existing T&D SCADA systems rely on analog devices and older protocols like ModBus and DNP3.  However, new digital substation communications, like the IEC 61850 protocol that connects directly to new IED’s (Intelligent Electronic Devices), are making their way into operations centers.  The data collected from many private generation and storage systems need to be aggregated for SCADA monitoring. Of course, all this new data communication requires cybersecurity considerations.