Antenna Group Announces Top 10 Cleantech Trends to Watch in 2012

January 19, 2012 – Vol.16 No.44

Antenna Group Announces Top 10 Cleantech Trends to Watch in 2012.

"As a leader in cleantech PR, we are able to spot the trends that will have the greatest influence in the year ahead," said Antenna Group CEO Keith Zakheim. "2012 is shaping up to be a critical year in the transition to a cleaner, more energy-efficient world. By identifying the leading trends, we can help business leaders and investors gain a foothold in the industries that will be at the forefront of that transition."

Below, drawn from input provided by Antenna's client-partners, are Antenna Group's top 10 trends to watch in 2012:

--- Energy efficiency goes retro – New construction has taken a massive hit over the last few years, resulting in fewer new green builds, but that hasn't slowed retrofit demand for energy-efficient products. Expect to see energy efficiency finally claim its moment in the spotlight.

--- Cellulosic biomass comes online -- Imagine being able to turn a wide variety of biomass inputs including wood and agricultural waste into fuels, plastics, nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals. Watch for the number of U.S.-based biorefineries to dramatically increase as the big players enter the biomass game.

--- Recycling finds its true potential – As went paper, glass and plastics, so will go consumer electronics and tires. A number of states are supporting efforts to give these materials second -- and perhaps even third -- lives. Watch for the big box, telecom, tire and asphalt sectors to pick up the sustainability baton.

--- The EV market picks up speed – While we've heard a lot about electric vehicles (EVs), there are precious few on the roads. But that will change in 2012 when a much wider selection of EVs will hit the market. Accompanying the EV rollout will be a dramatic expansion of the national car-charging infrastructure.

--- Smart meters reach critical mass – The national deployment of smart meters, which help utilities and customers to manage energy usage, is forging ahead: according to federal sources, the current penetration rate is 13 to 18 percent, with a penetration rate of more than 50 percent predicted by 2016.

--- Offshore wind takes root – The eastern seaboard is ideal for offshore wind because the shallow waters of the continental shelf make it easier to locate wind turbines far offshore. New Jersey is expected to become a leader in offshore wind with the implementation of the nation's first offshore wind incentive.

--- Dropping balance-of-system costs – As a result of a dramatic decline in solar module prices, attention has shifted to solar balance-of-system (BOS) costs. These costs, including racking, inverters and non-physical costs, can be expected to decline significantly in 2012, nudging solar closer to grid parity.

--- Distributed solar continues to thrive – The small- to mid-sized commercial solar segment will continue to see explosive growth. In addition to reducing electricity costs and providing a hedge against future rate increases, distributed solar also has the advantage of generating power at the sites where it is used.

--- More third-party ownership of solar systems – With the federal Section 1603 Treasury Grant Program shifting back to a tax credit, we can expect to see more third-party ownership of commercial solar systems in the form of long-term contracts called Power Purchase Agreements, or PPAs.

--- Gas-to-liquids technologies go mainstream – Gas-to-liquids (GTL) technologies, which transform natural gas into liquid transportation fuels such as diesel and gasoline are expected to play an increasingly significant role in meeting energy demand in the United States as GTL technologies go mainstream.

For the complete text of the top 10 trends, please visit the "Antenna Transmissions" blog on the Antenna Group website.

Antenna Group is a dedicated advocate for innovative technology businesses whose products or services contribute to a cleaner, more energy-efficient world. Antenna's cleantech client-partners are multinational companies for which Antenna serves as the agency of record, leading strategy and managing outreach via partners worldwide. Antenna's experience includes renewable energy of all kinds; energy efficiency; energy storage; finance, from utility-scale to residential; waste management; water; and food purification. Cleantech embraces modern energy, green tech and technologies for sustainable living. (1/19/12)

Links:

Antenna Group
http://www.antennagroup.com

Disclaimer, Forward-Looking or Safe Harbor Statement on original press release:No