LONDON, September 19 /PRNewswire/ -- The European Union's (EU) commitment to reduce carbon emissions across EU member states is likely to support increased investment in more environmentally friendly power generation systems. Accordingly, the implementation of the Emissions trading scheme in 2005, which has provided power plants and factories with allowances related to permissible carbon dioxide levels, is gaining importance and this is projected to be an significant driver for automation and control solutions (ACS) in the European power generation sector over the next few years.

Frost & Sullivan (http://www.industrialautomatio n.frost.com) finds that revenues from Automation and Control Solutions in the European Power Generation Sector, which reached $1,272.4 million in 2005, are estimated at $1,595.7 million by 2012.

"The Emissions trading scheme, together with reduced subsidies for less environmentally friendly power generation, are expected to boost demand and generate new investment opportunities for automation and control solutions - , remarks Frost & Sullivan Industry Analyst Jonas Westlund - . For example, investment in hydroelectric plants and wind farms is expected to generate demand for control and monitoring systems such as supervisory control and data acquisition system (SCADA) whereas increased demand of gas- fired plants and combined cycle gas turbines should generate new investment opportunities for distributed control system (DCS) systems.

Other drivers for growth in ACS include the deregulation of the European energy markets. Although this driver is expected to have less impact over the forecast period it is still expected to have a relatively high impact in Italy, Spain, France and also amongst EU accession countries.

In terms of geographical growth markets, the EU accession countries are expected to see increased investment levels in new power generation facilities. Existing power infrastructure is outdated and further investment is needed to comply with targets on carbon emission as well as achieve greater efficiency in power supply. Although the main source of energy is expected to remain coal over the forecast period, a gradual shift towards more environmentally friendly power generation investment is nevertheless anticipated.

An important trend in the European power generation sector will be the increasing importance of total system suppliers. As the power sector is operated by fewer but more influential power utilities, pressure will increase on ACS manufacturers to meet the evolving supply needs of the power utilities.

Through forward integration, many power utilities now control the complete product value chain from downstream generation to upstream distribution. Consolidation in emerging markets such as Eastern Europe has provided the major power utilities with opportunities to tap into organic growth.

"The trend towards provision of complete solutions will also mean that smaller suppliers will lose out on new Greenfield projects as they do not necessary have the expertise in providing complete system solutions as well as the ability to provide services over a wider geographical region", remarks Mr. Westlund. "The net effect will increasingly include major sector suppliers who are not only able to provide ACS but complete plant solutions. "

If you are interested in a virtual brochure, which provides manufacturers, end users, and other industry participants with an overview of the latest analysis of the Automation and Control Solutions in the European Power Generation Sector, send an e-mail to Chiara Carella - Corporate Communications at chiara.carella@frost.com with the following information: your full name, company name, title, telephone number, e-mail address, city, state, and country. We will send you the information through e-mail upon receipt of the above information.

Automation and Control Solutions in the European Power Generation Sector is part of the Industrial Automation and Process Control Subscription, which also includes research in the following markets: distributed control system (DCS), supervisory control and data acquisition system (SCADA), manufacturing execution system (MES), programmable logic controllers (PLC), industrial asset management (IAM) and human machine interface (HMI). All research included in subscriptions provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends. All research is evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants.

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Automation and Control Solutions in the European Power Generation Sector

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Contact:

Chiara Carella

Corporate Communications - Europe

P: +44-(0)-20-7343-8314

F: +44-(0)-20-7730-3343

E: chiara.carella@frost.com

Tori Foster

Corporate Communications - North America

P: +1-210-477-8448

F: +1-210-348-1003

E: tori.foster@frost.com

Donna Jeremiah

Corporate Communications - Asia Pacific

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E: djeremiah@frost.com

www.frost.com

Samantha Unnikrishnan

Corporate Communications - India

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E: sunnikrishnan@frost.com

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E: sjassal@frost.com

List of key industry participants: Wonderware Spain, Wonderware France, Rockwell Automation, ABB Sverige, Wonderware Italia S.P.A, Wonderware Spain, Citect BV, Citect GmbH, Citect Ltd, Citect SA, Telvent, Schneider Electric, Mitsubishi Electric, Rockwell Automation, GE Fanuc Automation Europe SA, Telvent, Honeywell POMS

List of keywords in this press release: automation and control solutions, ACS, Europe, European Union, EU, power generation, power plants, carbon dioxide, hydroelectric plant, wind farms, control and monitoring systems, human machine interface, HMI, industrial asset management, IAM, manufacturing execution system, MES, coal, oil-fired power plants, Italy, Spain, France, distributed control system, DCS, supervisory control and data acquisition system, SCADA

SOURCE Frost & Sullivan