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