Synopsis
European countries have become major proponents of smart grid infrastructure and smart metering. Although few countries have smart meter policies in place, most are in the process of drafting policies to take effect from 2010. The sector has been stimulated by widespread regulatory measures affecting both regulated and liberalised metering markets, as well as a significant reduction in the cost of smart meter technologies and general moves towards intelligent grids contributing towards lower carbon emissions. Thus Europe’s utility infrastructure is being upgraded with an intelligent IP overlay allowing utilities to manage their networks more efficiently and customers to manage their own energy use more effectively. This report provides an overview on smart grids in Europe, including analyses and information on deployments and regulatory policies.