2012 Planned Research Agenda

Our research advisory services encompass topics covering several topics in the energy market. Within each advisory service we plan a series of research projects spanning the range of interest areas each service covers. Our IDC Energy Insights analysts have planned dozens of research projects to help you get the most out of your business in the coming year. The information presented here represents some of our current plans (which are subject to change).

Additionally, Insights research can become the foundation or springboard for custom consulting projects that delve into topics important to your business, such as evaluating new business opportunities, understanding a market segment, exploring new technologies for your operations, improving knowledge of your customers, increasing customer satisfaction, developing a competitive strategy, and more.

Because our Research Agenda may change during the course of the year, regularly check this section for updates. To learn more about the planned research agenda or to learn about regional or country plans, please contact us.

Asia/Pacific Utility IT Strategies
The Asia/Pacific Utility IT Strategies research advisory service provides analysis of IT spending on hardware, software and services, by country, in the Asia/Pacific utility sector; key market trends and challenges facing the utility business; IT budgets in the utility sector based on industry trends and benchmarks; and case studies and best practices in the utility sector on the use of emerging IT technologies.
Document Type	Document Title	Publish Date
Best Practices	Asia Pacific Smart Grid Case Study #1 (Jeju Island Korea)	Oct-Dec 2011
Business Strategy	Asia Pacific Utility Business and IT Priorities 2012 (Survey)	Oct-Dec 2011
Perspective	Asia Pacific Clean Energy Outlook	Oct-Dec 2011
Top 10 Predictions	Asia Pacific Utility Industry 2012 Top 10 Predictions	Oct-Dec 2011
Business Strategy	Asia Pacific Smart Grid Trends	Jan-Mar 2012
Perspective	CIO Interview Series: Smart Grid Security	Jan-Mar 2012
Pivot Table	Asia Pacific Utility Industry IT Spending Forecast 2011-2016	Apr-Jun 2012
Best Practices	Asia Pacific Smart Grid Case Study #2	Apr-Jun 2012
Perspective	CIO Interview Series: Customer Engagement	Apr-Jun 2012
Business Strategy	Smart Grid Security Challenges and Opportunities	Jul-Sep 2012
Technology Selection	Trend and Market Development of EV Industry in AP	Jul-Sep 2012
Perspective	CIO Interview Series: Moving Beyond Smart Grid Pilots	Jul-Sep 2012
Best Practices	Asia Pacific Utility Business and IT Priorities 2013 (Survey)	Oct-Dec 2012
Business Strategy	Trend and Market Development of Smart Buildings in AP	Oct-Dec 2012
Perspective	CIO Interview Series: Cloud Computing	Oct-Dec 2012
Top 10 Predictions	Asia Pacific Utility Industry 2013 Top 10 Predictions	Oct-Dec 2012

Central and Eastern European Utility IT Strategies
The Central and Eastern European Utility IT Strategies research advisory service provides an in-depth look into and fact-based analysis of the utility sector across key markets in the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) region to help maximize the business value of IT investments. It examines the business and regulatory environment of the utility sector in Central and Eastern Europe, combining it with a comprehensive insight into the IT spending preferences and plans of utility providers, helping to understand the drivers and IT investment priorities within the sector.
Document Type	Document Title	Publish Date
Best Practices	Case Study: Cez Group Smart Metering Project	Oct-Dec 2011
Perspective	Renewable Energy in Central and Eastern Europe	Oct-Dec 2011
Top 10 Predictions	Central and Eastern Europe Utility Industry 2012 Top 10 Predictions	Oct-Dec 2011
Perspective	Comparing Western vs. Central/Eastern Europe IT Budget Trends	Jan-Mar 2012
Business Strategy	Smart Metering Update	Apr-Jun 2012
Pivot Table	Central and Eastern Europe Utility Industry IT Spending	Apr-Jun 2012
Technology Selection	Energy Efficiency and Emissions Reduction Technologies	Jul-Sep 2012
Business Strategy	IT Priorities, Budget Structures and Vendor Preferences	Jul-Sep 2012
Perspective	Clean Energy Strategies in Central and Eastern Europe	Oct-Dec 2012
Pivot Table	Central and Eastern Europe Utility IT Spending Update	Oct-Dec 2012
Top 10 Predictions	Central and Eastern Europe Utility Industry 2013 Top 10 Predictions	Oct-Dec 2012

Distributed Energy Strategies
Energy Insights’ Distributed Energy Strategies service provides exclusive market analysis and direct access to experts — helping subscribers better understand trends and developments related to distributed generation and energy storage. Through an integrated set of deliverables, subscribers receive the latest intelligence on the evolving distributed energy marketplace, enabling them to make better-informed business decisions and develop cost-effective strategies and tactics.
Document Type	Document Title	Publish Date
Business Strategy	The Connected Electric Vehicle (EV)	Oct-Dec 2011
Business Strategy	Plug-In Electric Vehicle (PEV) Batteries for Stationary Storage	Oct-Dec 2011
Technology Selection	Distributed Energy Resources for Smart Buildings	Oct-Dec 2011
Top 10 Predictions	North America Utility Industry 2012 Top 10 Predictions	Oct-Dec 2011
Technology Selection	Plug-In Electric Vehicle (PEV) Market Forecast	Jan-Mar 2012
Vendor Assessment	IDC MarketScape: Smart Building Lighting Control Systems	Jan-Mar 2012
Best Practice	Utility Plug-In Electric Vehicle (PEV) Programs	Apr-Jun 2012
Business Strategy	Storage as Generation - Hybrid Business Models	Apr-Jun 2012
Business Strategy	Smart Buildings and the Smart Grid	Apr-Jun 2012
Business Strategy	Energy Storage and Photovoltaic (PV) Integration	Jul-Sep 2012
Business Strategy	Energy Storage Sizing and Siting	Jul-Sep 2012
Business Strategy	Smart Building Technology for Small to Medium Businesses (SMBs)	Jul-Sep 2012
Best Practice	PEV Managed Charging Case Studies	Oct-Dec 2012
Vendor Assessment	IDC MarketScape: Plug-In Electric Vehicle (PEV) Charging Stations	Oct-Dec 2012
Technology Selection	Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) for Smart Buildings	Oct-Dec 2012
Top 10 Predictions	North America Utility Industry 2013 Top 10 Predictions	Oct-Dec 2012

Europe, Middle East and Africa Clean Energy Strategies
The Europe, Middle East, and Africa Clean Energy Strategies service provides exclusive market analysis and direct access to industry-specific experts, helping subscribers better understand trends and developments related to green power marketing, regulatory requirements, and emerging technologies. Through an integrated set of deliverables, subscribers receive the latest intelligence on the evolving renewable energy marketplace, enabling them to make better-informed business decisions and develop cost-effective strategies and tactics.
Document Type	Document Title	Publish Date
Perspective	EMEA Clean Energy Market Update	Oct-Dec 2011
Technology Selection	Virtual Power Plant (VPP) Architecture	Oct-Dec 2011
Best Practices	Energy Efficiency and Energy Services Case Study	Oct-Dec 2011
Top 10 Predictions	EMEA Utility Industry 2012 Top 10 Predictions	Oct-Dec 2011
Perspective	EMEA Clean Energy Market Update	Jan-Mar 2012
Best Practices	Smart Cities Update: Malaga	Jan-Mar 2012
Perspective	EMEA Clean Energy Market Update	Apr-Jun 2012
Business Strategy	Residential Customer Engagement	Apr-Jun 2012
Technology Selection	Water Management	Apr-Jun 2012
Perspective	EMEA Clean Energy Market Update	Jul-Sep 2012
Vendor Assessment	IDC MarketScape: Residential Solar Inverters in EMEA	Jul-Sep 2012
Technology Selection	Energy Storage Technology Positioning	Jul-Sep 2012
Perspective	EMEA Clean Energy Market Update	Oct-Dec 2012
Best Practices	Renewable and Distributed Generation Integration	Oct-Dec 2012
Business Strategy	Electric Vehicle Business Model Update	Oct-Dec 2012
Top 10 Predictions	EMEA Utility Industry 2013 Top 10 Predictions	Oct-Dec 2012

Europe, Middle East and Africa Utility IT Strategies
Information technology is playing an increasingly important role in allowing organizations to address these challenges. The Europe, Middle East and Africa Utility IT Strategies research advisory service assesses the impact of technology investments on business performance through an integrated set of deliverables. IDC Energy Insights' independent, forward-looking research, combined with fact-based analysis and best-practice case studies, provides advice on maximizing the business value of technology investments.
Document Type	Document Title	Publish Date
Perspective	EMEA Utility IT Market Update	Oct-Dec 2011
Business Strategy	CIO Priorities: IT Solutions and Technologies	Oct-Dec 2011
Vendor Assessment	IDC MarketScape: Customer Care and Billing in Unbundled Competitive Markets	Oct-Dec 2011
Top 10 Predictions	EMEA Utility Industry 2012 Top 10 Predictions	Oct-Dec 2011
Perspective	EMEA Utility IT Market Update	Jan-Mar 2012
Business Strategy	Cloud Services in the EMEA Utility Industry	Jan-Mar 2012
Perspective	EMEA Utility IT Market Update	Apr-Jun 2012
Best Practices	Distribution Automation Case Study	Apr-Jun 2012
Vendor Assessment	IDC MarketScape: IT Service Providers in the EMEA Utility Industry	Apr-Jun 2012
Perspective	EMEA Utility IT Market Update	Jul-Sep 2012
Pivot Table	Western Europe Utility Industry IT Spending Forecast	Jul-Sep 2012
Business Strategy	CIO Priorities: IT Budget Distribution and Channel Selection	Jul-Sep 2012
Perspective	EMEA Utility IT Market Update	Oct-Dec 2012
Vendor Assessment	IDC MarketScape: Work and Asset Management	Oct-Dec 2012
Technology Selection	EMEA Smart Metering Market Update	Oct-Dec 2012
Top 10 Predictions	EMEA Utility Industry 2013 Top 10 Predictions	Oct-Dec 2012

Middle East and Africa Oil & Gas IT Strategies
The Middle East and Africa Oil and Gas IT Strategies service examines the business environment of the oil and gas sector in MEA and combines this with comprehensive insight into industry trends and its impact on information technology. The service also tracks the IT spending behavior and the IT plans of oil and gas companies, establishing a thorough understanding of the drivers and IT investment priorities within the sector.
Document Type	Document Title	Publish Date
Technology Selection	Private Cloud in the Oil & Gas Industry	Oct-Dec 2011
Business Strategy	Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR)	Oct-Dec 2011
Top 10 Predictions	Middle East and Africa Oil & Gas Industry 2012 Top 10 Predictions	Oct-Dec 2011
Best Practices	Digital Oil Field Case Study #1	Jan-Mar 2012
Technology Selection	Risk Management in Oil & Gas	Apr-Jun 2012
Technology Selection	Asset Management in Upstream Oil & Gas	Apr-Jun 2012
Technology Selection	Business Analytics for Upstream Oil & Gas	Jul-Sep 2012
Best Practices	Digital Oil Field Case Study #2	Jul-Sep 2012
Perspective	Oil & Gas Security Update	Oct-Dec 2012
Technology Selection	ERP in Oil & Gas	Oct-Dec 2012
Top 10 Predictions	Middle East and Africa Oil & Gas Industry 2013 Top 10 Predictions	Oct-Dec 2012

Smart Grid Strategies
IDC Energy Insights’ Smart Grid Strategies research and advisory program is dedicated to helping utilities and technology providers understand the complex dynamics of the rapidly evolving intelligent grid market. This service will explore the business and regulatory impacts of emerging intelligent grid technologies and provide innovative strategies such as distributed energy resources. Technologies covered will include sensors, smart metering, network automation and control, analytics, and communications technologies such as broadband over power lines (BPL) and WiFi/WiMAX.
Document Type	Document Title	Publish Date
Vendor Assessment	IDC MarketScape: Distribution Management Systems	Oct-Dec 2011
Business Strategy	The Connected Electric Vehicle (EV)	Oct-Dec 2011
Technology Selection	Home Energy Mgmt (HEM)/Home Area Network (HAN) Technology Stack	Oct-Dec 2011
Top 10 Predictions	North America Utility Industry 2012 Top 10 Predictions	Oct-Dec 2011
Business Strategy	Smart Grid Communications Opportunties for Service Providers	Jan-Mar 2012
Perspective	Emerging Services Plays - Winners and Losers	Jan-Mar 2012
Technology Selection	Home Energy Mgmt (HEM)/Home Area Network (HAN) Market Forecast	Apr-Jun 2012
Technology Selection	Smart Communications for Distribution Automation (DA)	Apr-Jun 2012
Business Strategy	Smart Buildings and the Smart Grid	Apr-Jun 2012
Perspective	Smart Grid Security and Data Privacy Update	Jul-Sep 2012
Best Practices	Distribution Automation (DA) Case Study	Jul-Sep 2012
Best Practices	Converged Network Infrastructure	Jul-Sep 2012
Best Practices	Best Practices for Consumer Portals	Oct-Dec 2012
Technology Selection	Distribution Field Device Control	Oct-Dec 2012
Perspective	Security and Data Privacy Standards	Oct-Dec 2012
Top 10 Predictions	North America Utility Industry 2013 Top 10 Predictions	Oct-Dec 2012

Solar Energy Strategies
The Solar Energy Strategies service provides exclusive market analysis and direct access to experts - helping subscribers better understand trends and developments related to solar energy technologies, environmental regulations, government incentives for green energy, and renewable energy certificate (REC) markets. Through an integrated set of deliverables, subscribers receive the latest intelligence on the evolving renewable energy marketplace, enabling them to make better-informed business decisions and develop cost-effective strategies and tactics
Document Type	Document Title	Publish Date
Perspective	Solar Market Update	Oct-Dec 2011
Best Practice	Photovoltaic (PV) System Pricing - Which Business Model Will Win?	Oct-Dec 2011
Technology Selection	Photovoltaic (PV) Module Chemistries	Oct-Dec 2011
Top 10 Predictions	North America Utility Industry 2012 Top 10 Predictions	Oct-Dec 2011
Perspective	Solar Market Update	Jan-Mar 2012
Best Practice	Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) System Pricing - Comparison to PV	Jan-Mar 2012
Perspective	Solar Market Update	Apr-Jun 2012
Vendor Assessment	IDC MarketScape: Commercial Scale Solar Inverters	Apr-Jun 2012
Business Strategy	Integrating High Penetration Solar Photovoltaics (PV)	Apr-Jun 2012
Perspective	Solar Market Update	Jul-Sep 2012
Technology Selection	Demand for Smart Photovoltaic (PV) Modules	Jul-Sep 2012
Technology Selection	Demand for Smart Solar Inverters	Jul-Sep 2012
Perspective	Solar Market Update	Oct-Dec 2012
Business Strategy	Emerging Markets for Photovoltaics (PV)	Oct-Dec 2012
Business Strategy	Emerging Markets for Concentrating Solar Power (CSP)	Oct-Dec 2012
Top 10 Predictions	North America Utility Industry 2013 Top 10 Predictions	Oct-Dec 2012

Utility IT Strategies
The Utility IT Strategies service covers traditional IT infrastructure of utility companies, particularly as it applies to meeting the needs of the generation, transmission and distribution, and retail businesses at the utility, merchant generation companies and retail energy providers. The service focuses on business performance, business-related IT strategy, IT budget, and best practices in achieving efficiency. In addition, it covers serving customers and managing assets, carbon and the workforce.
Document Type	Document Title	Publish Date
Vendor Assessment	IDC MarketScape: Customer Care and Billing for Unbundled Competitive Markets	Oct-Dec 2011
Business Strategy	Mobility for the Field Worker - BYOD?	Oct-Dec 2011
Top 10 Predictions	North America Utility Industry 2012 Top 10 Predictions	Oct-Dec 2011
Perspective	Emerging Services Plays - Winners and Losers	Jan-Mar 2012
Technology Selection	Meter Data Management - Getting to Scale	Jan-Mar 2012
Perspective	CIO Strategies - IT/OT Governance	Jan-Mar 2012
Business Strategy	Analytics for Power Generation	Apr-Jun 2012
Business Strategy	Using Social Media and Mobile Apps to Engage the Customer	Apr-Jun 2012
Perspective	CIO Strategies - IT Budgets	Apr-Jun 2012
Best Practices	Getting Started with Business Analytics	Jul-Sep 2012
Technology Selection	Visualization for the New Workforce	Jul-Sep 2012
Perspective	Is Prepayment the Next Big Thing?	Jul-Sep 2012
Best Practices	Best Practices for Customer Portals	Oct-Dec 2012
Vendor Assessment	IDC MarketScape: Work and Asset Management	Oct-Dec 2012
Perspective	High Value Analytics for High Business Performance	Oct-Dec 2012
Top 10 Predictions	North America Utility Industry 2013 Top 10 Predictions	Oct-Dec 2012

Worldwide Oil & Gas Industry IT Spending Guide
Energy Insight’s Worldwide Oil and Gas Industry IT Spending Guide is a semiannual analysis of the current status and projected growth of information technology spending in the oil and gas sector. This global five-year outlook on spending by oil and gas companies provides IT vendors with key information needed to develop effective market strategies. This service combines IDC's extensive technology forecasts with deep industry knowledge provided by IDC Energy Insights analysts and ongoing primary research in the oil and gas industry.
Document Type	Document Title	Publish Date
Pivot Table	Worldwide Oil and Gas Industry IT Spending Guide - Annual	Oct-Dec 2011
Pivot Table	Worldwide Oil and Gas Industry IT Spending Guide - Mid-year Update	Jan-Mar 2012
Pivot Table	Worldwide Oil and Gas Industry IT Spending Guide - Annual	Oct-Dec 2012

Worldwide Oil and Gas IT Strategies
The Worldwide Oil and Gas IT Strategies research advisory service provides insights into and analysis of the impact of information technology investments and business process initiatives on business performance in the upstream and trading sectors of the oil and gas industry. Studies will include business strategy, best practices, technology selection, and vendor assessment
Document Type	Document Title	Publish Date
Business Strategy	Unconventional Gas Market Dynamics	Oct-Dec 2011
Perspective	Hydrocarbon Accounting Market Update	Oct-Dec 2011
Perspective	Project Portfolio Management (PPM) Market Update	Oct-Dec 2011
Top 10 Predictions	Worldwide Oil & Gas Industry 2012 Top 10 Predictions	Oct-Dec 2011
Technology Selection	Unconventional Gas Technology Landscape	Jan-Mar 2012
Best Practices	Digital Oil Field Case Study #1	Jan-Mar 2012
Technology Selection	Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S) Technology Landscape	Apr-Jun 2012
Perspective	Oil & Gas CIO Issues	Apr-Jun 2012
Vendor Assessment	IDC MarketScape: Project Portfolio Management (PPM) MarketScape	Apr-Jun 2012
Best Practices	Digital Oil Field Case Study #2	Jul-Sep 2012
Vendor Assessment	IDC MarketScape: Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S)	Jul-Sep 2012
Technology Selection	Business Analytics for Upstream Oil & Gas	Jul-Sep 2012
Best Practices	Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S) Case Study	Oct-Dec 2012
Best Practices	Unconventional Gas Case Study	Oct-Dec 2012
Perspective	Oil & Gas Security Update	Oct-Dec 2012
Top 10 Predictions	Worldwide Oil & Gas Industry 2013 Top 10 Predictions	Oct-Dec 2012

Worldwide Quarterly Photovoltaic Module Tracker
Photovoltaic (PV) technology has come a long way since its initial rollout in the mid-20th century, and it has, particularly over the past decade, generated a healthy market. But the resource - enabled by regulatory and incentive-driven demand, increased polysilicon supply, and falling price points within the next two to four years - now stands on the precipice of truly explosive growth. Even amid the current slowdown in the global capital markets, future PV price reductions coupled with rising retail electricity prices and stringent environmental compliance requirements point to a new era of solar power. This tracker provides total market size and vendor share for the following technology areas and segmentations. Measurement for this tracker is in unit shipments, unit installations, MW capacity, and value.
Document Type	Document Title	Publish Date
Pivot Table	Worldwide Quarterly Photovoltaic Module Tracker	Oct-Dec 2011
Pivot Table	Worldwide Quarterly Photovoltaic Module Tracker	Jan-Mar 2012
Pivot Table	Worldwide Quarterly Photovoltaic Module Tracker	Apr-Jun 2012
Pivot Table	Worldwide Quarterly Photovoltaic Module Tracker	Jul-Sep 2012
Pivot Table	Worldwide Quarterly Photovoltaic Module Tracker	Oct-Dec 2012

Worldwide Quarterly Smart Meter Tracker
Due in large part to stimulus funding, the past year has seen an uptick in U.S. utilities' smart meter deployments. In fact, about half of the states currently have utilities with some smart metering pilots or installations. By the end of 2010, we expect to see over 20 million smart meters deployed in the United States, which is a 15% market penetration. By 2015, we expect deployments to reach 100 million meters or 65% market penetration. IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Smart Meter Tracker provides clients with the detailed information necessary for navigating this evolving landscape by providing reliable, accurate, and independent market data that serves as a foundation for creating quantitative market analyses and studying historical trends. This tracker provides total market size and vendor share for the following technology areas and segmentations. Measurement for this tracker is in unit shipments, unit installations, and value.
Document Type	Document Title	Publish Date
Pivot Table	Worldwide Quarterly Smart Meter Tracker	Oct-Dec 2011
Pivot Table	Worldwide Quarterly Smart Meter Tracker	Jan-Mar 2012
Pivot Table	Worldwide Quarterly Smart Meter Tracker	Apr-Jun 2012
Pivot Table	Worldwide Quarterly Smart Meter Tracker	Jul-Sep 2012
Pivot Table	Worldwide Quarterly Smart Meter Tracker	Oct-Dec 2012

Worldwide Quarterly Solar Inverter Tracker
As the photovoltaic market grows, so does the solar inverter market, averaging 30-40% annual growth globally over the past five years. That growth is seen across all sectors of the solar industry, but a particular surge in growth, as much as 60% annually, is expected in the coming years in the utility-scale photovoltaic market. Among the drivers pushing the market for solar power are rate-payer pressure to increase access to renewable sources of energy, regulatory and policy requirements, government incentives, and declining PV module costs. This tracker provides total market size and vendor share for the following technology areas and segmentations. Measurement for this tracker is in unit shipments, unit installations, MW capacity, and value.
Document Type	Document Title	Publish Date
Pivot Table	Worldwide Quarterly Solar Inverter Tracker	Oct-Dec 2011
Pivot Table	Worldwide Quarterly Solar Inverter Tracker	Jan-Mar 2012
Pivot Table	Worldwide Quarterly Solar Inverter Tracker	Apr-Jun 2012
Pivot Table	Worldwide Quarterly Solar Inverter Tracker	Jul-Sep 2012
Pivot Table	Worldwide Quarterly Solar Inverter Tracker	Oct-Dec 2012

Worldwide Utility Industry IT Spending Guide
IDC Energy Insights’ Worldwide Utility Industry IT Spending Guide is a semiannual analysis of the current status and projected growth of information technology spending in the utility sector (electricity, natural gas, and water). This global five-year outlook on spending by utility companies provides IT vendors with key information needed to develop effective market strategies. This service combines IDC's extensive technology forecasts with deep industry knowledge provided by IDC Energy Insights analysts and ongoing primary research in the utilities industry.
Document Type	Document Title	Publish Date
Pivot Table	Worldwide Utility Industry IT Spending Guide - Annual	Jan-Mar 2012
Pivot Table	Worldwide Utility Industry IT Spending Guide - Mid-year Update	Jul-Sep 2012