2016 Global Smart Meter Shipment Forecast

As smart meters have the advantages of energy saving and improved grid efficiency, it is expected that power companies will rapidly adopt smart meters to boost global shipments from 2011 to 2016 and double the associated semiconductor market.

According to IHSiSuppli, global smart meter shipments in 2016 will increase from 20.5 million in 2011 to 62 million. In 2016, the sales of semiconductors used in global smart meters will increase from 505.6 million US dollars in 2011 to 1.1 billion US dollars. The chart below shows IHSiSuppli's forecast for global smart meter shipments and related semiconductor sales.

The original intention of using smart meters instead of traditional ones is to save energy. However, it is more attractive to introduce smart grids. By adopting smart meters, power companies will eventually form a well-planned power grid that will enable them to plan their power generation capabilities and manage their resources more effectively.

Government support measures and regulations are promoting the deployment of smart meters. For example, in the United States, the stimulus funds provided by the SmartGridInvestmentGrantProgram are driving the replacement of smart meters with traditional electricity meters. At the same time, the European Union plans to convert 80% of its electricity meters into smart meters by 2020, with shipments equivalent to 180 million.