Feb 8 2013
Remote sensing systems, including light detection and ranging (LIDAR) and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems for the oil and gas industry, as well as remote monitoring using telemetry for environmental applications, represent a growing market for off-grid power.
Increasingly this power is being supplied by renewable energy and alternative sources, such as fuel cells and advanced batteries. According to a new report from Pike Research, a part of Navigant’s Energy Practice, nearly 27,000 remote sensing systems based on renewable and alternative energy will be shipped annually by 2020.
“Off-grid power systems for remote sensing applications are increasingly required to be self-contained, in terms of power and performance, for many months at a time,” says research director Kerry-Ann Adamson. “While applications include river gauging stations, earthquake and tsunami monitoring sites, and weather stations, the primary end-use is in the oil and gas industry, which frequently pursues exploration and production in more remote environments.”
The industry serving this market remains small and fragmented, according to the report. No single solution is set to become dominant. Currently, the development of technology to provide enough power to these sites for telemetry is focused on two tracks: trickle-charging the battery to extend its operating life and (in the longer term) replacing the battery. The aim of these new systems is to allow site autonomy of one year or more.
The report, “Off-Grid Power for Remote Sensing Applications”, examines the market for remote sensing systems using renewable or alternative energy, focusing on remote sensing, LIDAR, and SCADA systems. Market drivers and barriers for the use of renewable or alternative energy systems are detailed, along with specific factors at work in the oil and gas industry. Market forecasts for unit shipments and for revenues, segmented by application, are provided through 2020. The report also includes profiles of key industry players. An Executive Summary of the report is available for free download on the Pike Research website.