IT firms have been slow to see the opportunities from the emerging renewable energy market, Gartner believes.

 

It says the US solar power purchase agreement (PPA) market will grow more than ten times in the next four years, opening up demand for equipment and solutions from ICT providers.

 

The PPA market will require particular data mining and integration software products to support independent power producers (IPPs) as they build their renewable energy businesses.

 

Al Velosa, research director at Gartner, says few IT vendors are now in the market, which the company estimates will be worth $8 billion in four years, up from around $700 million in 2009.

 

“If they are able to develop a coherent renewable energy marketing strategy that serves both their customers and a new customer base of more nimble, flexible start-ups with a laser focus on this market segment, then they will reap the rewards,” he said.

 

Gartner says software, hardware and IT services firms should target IPP firms that are developing photo-voltaic solar systems.

The research firm predicts that the IPP portion of the U.S. PV market will grow at CAGR of more than 100% through to 2013 and that in 2013, IPP firms will install PV systems in the US with an energy generation capacity of 2.9 GW, at a cost of $8 billion.