Major industry report on renewable energy outlook for next 5 years launched today!

“Toward the tipping point: new research provides a reality check on the outlook for renewable energy.”

Technology Radar 2018 "Renewable Energy" report - launched today by Lloyds Register - analyses the sizeable renewable energy impacts in the next five (5) years and beyond. It provides answers from leading industry experts on their optimism, concerns and investment outlook on tomorrows energy mix.


If there were doubts that renewable energy sources could ever compete effectively with oil, natural gas and coal in power generation, developments in the past two years should have dispelled them! But, what will it take for renewable energy to become the primary form of energy consumed?

The Lloyds Register 2018 Technology Radar - Renewable Energy study, published today, asks the question: when will renewable energy become the dominant source of energy? Furthermore, the study examines which technologies are likely to have the greatest impact in different countries, and what are the key drivers and inhibitors for success.

The research sought the insights and opinions of leaders across the sector, as well as a survey of 800 professionals and experts around the world. The survey included respondents from organisations across the renewables value chain, including traditional energy companies with renewable energy assets or activities.

Respondents were asked to give their perspective on the challenges that need to be overcome for renewables to be the primary form of energy consumed, the rate of growth in their country and to rate a number of technologies and developments in terms of their potential impact, the amount of time it would take for these technologies to hit the market, and how likely they are to be adopted once they do. Respondents were also asked to reflect on the pace and success of innovation in their sector - and what they see as the major drivers and blockers post 2018.

Key findings include:

• Respondents expect grid parity for solar to be achieved first in China (2022), followed by Spain and UAE in 2024, and by Australia and the US in 2025. For wind power generation, grid parity is expected in Germany and UK by 2024, USA and Denmark in 2025, and in Sweden by 2033.

• Although a minority of respondents (10%) believe that renewables have already overtaken fossil fuels in their country, or will do so in the next two years, 58% believe that this milestone will not be reached until after 2025.

• Renewable economics are unquestionably improving, but 62% of respondents say that high development costs remain the primary argument against pursuing renewables in their country. However, the cost of building solar capacity for utility-scale generation has more than halved in the past 10 years, which has helped to fuel the rapid expansion of solar capacity worldwide since 2014.

• More than 45% of the surveyed executives (including 55% of those based in Europe) say that resistance to onshore wind turbines in their countries is too strong to enable significant growth from this source.

• An overwhelming 71% agree that technology advances will do more in the next five (5) years to improve the economic case for renewables than policy or regulatory changes. There is an expectation for advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), demand response management (DRM) systems, networked sensors and accuracy of asset monitoring data to have a beneficial impact on operational performance. However, 36% identify policy inconsistency as an inhibiting factor.

• 37% of respondents indicate the slow development of storage technologies as the most important factor inhibiting the growth of renewables in the energy mix. Utilities need to be able to call on energy producers for additional power whenever it is required, whether for load balancing or meeting surges. Green hydrogen provides an alternative form of storage to electrochemical batteries as hydrogen fuel cells can store power for considerably longer.

• 42% of respondents agree that reaching grid parity will not be enough to cause a sustained increase in investment in renewables. Subsidies are critical to support developments in most markets.

"Our latest Technology Radar - Renewable Energy research reflects the most current and forward-looking attitudes, actions, and investment behaviours in both global and local renewable energy markets. These trends are striving to shape tomorrows sustainable energy mix and are framing a clear end in sight for a big transformational shift in sustainable energy provision," says Alasdair Buchanan, Director of Lloyds Registers Energy business, a leading global provider of engineering and technology-centric professional services.

"It is this insight and the future-forward energy implications that position Lloyds Registers 2018 Technology Radar Renewable Energy report as essential to investor, developer, operator and regulator strategies for the years ahead."

Karl Ove Ingebrigtsen, Director of Lloyds Registers Low Carbon Power Generation business highlights: "I am heartened by the optimistic outlook and by the measured and realistic approach that is displayed throughout the results and insights in this years research. It illuminates the outlook for renewable energy - and highlights the technologies that are expected to deliver the greatest impact, especially in grid transformation which must be based on a sound understanding of each countrys individual ecosystem; it is clear that this is advancing alongside technology, policy and investment."

This is the fourth year Lloyds Register has conducted its award-winning Technology Radar research. Whilst earlier editions have focused on the oil and gas sector and low carbon, this time around, the research concentrates on the renewable energy sector, with particular attention to sustainable energy drivers, geo-and political demographics, energy demand, market design, policy, technology, public appetite and social licence.

The research delivers insights that will help to inform industry debate and energy policy across the world, and may help to raise further discussions on areas such as standardisation and putting a price on carbon that treats all carbon equally which is an increasing focus for industry. For oil and gas producers a standardised carbon price scheme for emissions provides a financial incentive to seek solutions through efficiency and innovation in lower carbon technologies.

"We are seeing a real shift in thinking by the oil and gas majors as they increase their renewable energy portfolio and diversify their offering in the market. The halcyon days of high oil prices scuppering renewable energy growth and development is a distant memory; the energy industry is on a new low carbon growth and efficiency drive which will change the source of our energy supply forever," says Ingebrigsten.

The 2018 Technology Radar Renewable Energy report is published today, February 13, 2018. Go to lr.org/techradar to download the 2018 Technology Radar Renewable Energy report and findings, plus the Executive Summary in English, Chinese, French, German, Portuguese or Norwegian.

If you have questions or feedback, email nova.garabetian@lr.org.

If you are an editor or reporter and want to arrange an interview to talk through the findings of the 2018 Technology Radar Renewable Energy report, email jason.knights@lr.org.

Join the conversation online #techradar


About Lloyds Register
Lloyds Register (LR) is a global engineering, technical and business services organisation wholly owned by the Lloyds Register Foundation, a UK charity dedicated to research and education in science and engineering. Founded in 1760 as a marine classification society, LR now operates across many energy industry sectors, with around 9,000 employees in the Group across 78 countries.
LR has a long-standing reputation for integrity, impartiality and technical excellence. Our compliance, risk and technical consultancy services give clients confidence that their assets and businesses are safe, sustainable and dependable. Through our global technology centres and research network, LR is at the forefront of understanding the application of new science and technology to future-proof our clients businesses.

About the Technology Radar series
Global research, sector insights and in-country reports and industry surveys form part of the Technology Radar series managed by the energy business of Lloyd's Register. The reports combine Lloyds Registers expert knowledge with third-party insights, to provide data-driven findings on the role of innovation, technology, safety and sustainability in the current and future energy industry.
Our role at LR is to ensure that we provide that independent viewpoint to help government, energy producers, manufacturers, regulators and policy makers to the energy industry extract energy safely, and to deliver energy sustainably, with minimal risk to people and to the environment, and in socially responsible ways. We recognise that true value can be created by nurturing stakeholder relationships, based on trust and understanding. LR is addressing industrys most significant technology and sustainability challenges by interacting and working with energy stakeholders on an ongoing basis. Through interviews with senior industry practitioners and surveys of energy professionals, the Technology Radar series provides a compelling insight on latest industry thinking, trends and insights.

Featured Product

Introducing RockIt Smart Slide

Introducing RockIt Smart Slide

Introducing RockIt Smart Slide - the ultimate solution for fast and easy installation of the rail-less RockIt racking system on composition shingle roofs. Smart Slide conforms to UL 441 and TAS 100 (A)-95 for wind and wind-driven rain, providing a super-strong watertight seal that is achieved through compression, in most cases without the need for additional sealant. The waterproofing sealant is embedded deep into the granules of the shingle, thanks to the integrated flexible foam layer that provides cushioning. This ensures a secure fit that conforms to any architectural-style shingle. With UltraGrip Technology™, you can rely on a secure installation, as it absorbs the movement created by thermal expansion and contraction. The pre-installed sealing pads are compatible with all composition shingle roofs, making it the ideal choice, even in ambient temperatures as low as 5 degrees.