Lull in global smart meter shipments

There was a lull in global smart meter shipments in the second quarter of 2013, according to a new report released by Navigant Research this week. The latest Smart Grid […]

There was a lull in global smart meter shipments in the second quarter of 2013, according to a new report released by Navigant Research this week.

The latest Smart Grid Deployment Tracker put this down to fewer large-scale announcements from companies and countries buying up smart meters.

The report estimated 25.5 million units were shipped during the period, a 1.3% drop on the previous quarter when 25.9 million meters were sent out. It brings the figure for the preceding year to 97.7 million.

Following a time of significant growth between 2009 and 2012 the pace has slackened, as most utility companies interested in smart meters are now in the process of completing rollouts.

China (pictured) is dwarfing the rest of the world when it comes to smart meter installations. A colossal 89% of all smart meter shipments during the second quarter were bound for the emerging giant. North America took second spot, accounting for 63% of all other smart meter shipments.

Last week DECC confirmed the contracts for the UK’s smart meter rollout and the week before that British Gas announced it had signed a £600 million deal to buy smart meters.

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