Power Generation – Top Five Trends for 2018 and Beyond

Power generation is experiencing a series of trends which will shape the market for decades to come. Coal is seemingly on a terminal decline, to be replaced by natural gas, and renewable energy is making substantial strides to become more commercially relevant. Advances ensure new power sources are moving closer to becoming part of the mainstream, with problems such as using renewable energy on demand now being solved. Leading companies in power generation must stay ahead of the development curve in these areas; failure to do so will mean allowing rivals to gain crucial competitive advantages at a time of great change.

Key questions answered

– What advances have occurred in renewable energy?

– What future is there for coal in the modern power market?

– Can energy storage realize the full potential of renewable energy?

– Why is gas now overtaking coal in the developed world?

– Can next generation renewable technology be successful?

Scope

– Explores developments in the next generation of renewable technology

– Looks at the condition of conventional renewable energy

– Assesses the impact of gas on the international market

– Analyses the future of coal as a source of power

Reasons to buy

- Whilst exciting advances are being made in the next generation of renewable technologies, conventional renewable energy is also making large strides towards becoming a major part of the global power generation market.

- Able to release energy over a sustained period of time, rather than short bursts achieved with batteries, molten salt is now being combined with renewable energy, enabling access on demand to renewable energy.

- Power producers are increasingly moving away from coal, creating merger and acquisition activity as firms diversify into natural gas. No longer is coal a sustainable business for power companies on a long-term basis.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Overview 2

Catalyst 2

Summary 2

Conventional renewable power is experiencing rapid change 7

Solar energy advances increase performance, facilitating wider usage 7

Subsidies are beginning to drop, causing renewable energy to stand unsupported 8

Advances in technology exert downward pressure on prices, driving progress towards wider use 9

Next generation renewable energy to shake up power grid 11

Solar furnaces are becoming more powerful, creating a new option in renewable energy 11

Tidal and wave power generation moves closer to commercial viability, potentially transforming energy markets 12

Geothermal energy is edging towards mainstream power generation, helping developing countries 13

Capacity to store energy could change power generation 14

Molten salt does what alternatives do not supply energy over prolonged periods of time 14

Experimental power storage systems brings energy storage into homes, potentially turning homes into micro-power stations 15

Energy storage can aid energy systems in developing world 15

Natural gas is catching coal amid push for lower carbon emissions 17

Natural gas fired power plants overtake coal in developed nations 17

Coal power plants are closing as energy providers move elsewhere, leaving way open for natural gas 18

Liquefied Natural Gas playing increasing role in speeding up transition from coal to gas 18

Despite quickening decline, Coal remains important and is becoming more efficient 20

Ultra-supercritical coal finds significant gains in efficiency, slowing decline in usage 20

Coal is in decline but will continue to be dominant power source 21

Conclusions 23

Conventional renewable energy is making strides in commercial viability 23

Next generation of renewable energy has substantial potential successfully tapping it shall become more important 23

Energy storage can change the nature of energy production, heralding an era of renewable energy 23

Transition from coal to natural gas is gathering pace power generation companies are switching across 23

Despite decline, coal will remain relevant in many countries 23

Appendix 24

Sources 24

Further Reading 24

Ask the analyst 25

About MarketLine 25

Disclaimer 25

List of Figures

List of Figures

Figure 1: Borosil Glass Works 2mm tempered glass, 2017 7

Figure 2: Hinkley Point C, artists impression 8

Figure 3: European renewable energy volume (GWh) 2011-2016 9

Figure 4: Gemasolar power plant, Seville, Spain 11

Figure 5: MeyGen project 12

Figure 6: Cerro Dominador solar plant 14

Figure 7: Nigeria, Mambilla hydrodam under construction 16

Figure 8: Global power generation (quadrillion British Thermal Units) forecast for coal and natural gas 17

Figure 9: Floating LNG regasification capacity by region 19

Figure 10: UK coal production and consumption 1800-2016 (Million tons of oil equivalent) 20

Figure 11: US coal consumption 2006-2016 (millions tons oil equivalent) 21

    Pricing

Quick Buy
Add to basket Request sample pages

Discounts available for multiple purchases.

reportstore@marketline.com
+44 20 7947 2960

Saved reports