Six clean energy markets that will change life as we know it in next five years

NEW YORK, USA: Renewable energy is receiving a big push from the Obama Administration and from governments around the globe. Stimulus packages and government incentives for green technology have created jobs and established new industry, which in turn has sparked a brighter outlook on the world's economy.

Going into 2011 and beyond, SBI Energy has identified six clean energies that will not only gain double-digit growth in the next five years, but will also alter the lifestyle we know today.

Green Building Materials and Construction -- Traditional construction creates considerable debris which ends up in our landfills, soil and fresh water supply. Furthermore, inefficient materials used in construction produce higher energy bills for the homeowner.

The judicious use of recycled materials, lumber that is harvested from sustainable forests, more efficient insulation and windows, and improved construction techniques can drop energy bills for consumers while reducing the need for raw materials simultaneously.

Market research performed by SBI Energy forecasts the size of the global green building materials market to grow to over $580 billion by 2015 from about $160 billion in 2010. This represents a growth rate of 21 percent CAGR, which is significant, but understandable in light of increasing demand for products that save energy and minimize harmful environmental effects.

Enhanced Oil Recovery -- EOR refers to a variety of oil producing methods, by which 70-90 percent more oil is produced from oil wells than is typically extracted by conventional oil production methods. Some of the more common EOR methods include steam, gas or chemical injection, which improve the viscosity of the oil, enabling the oil to flow more freely out of the well.

More oil indicates lower prices. SBI Energy estimates dollars from EOR will climb steadily with some gentle fluctuations. SBI's analysts calculate the EOR market will experience a CAGR of 63 percent per year over the six-year span to total $1.3 trillion in 2015.

Solar Technology -- We've all seen the solar panels on residential home roofs and today energy providers are multiplying this concept by installing large solar farms and using concentrated solar power (CSP) technology to supplement power demands.

Electricity from CSP technology is generated like conventional electricity, except solar power is used to heat the boiler instead of fossil fuels. Global CSP installations are just getting started and SBI Energy expects to see real growth in the segment beginning in 2012.

CSP is the fastest growing segment within the solar technologies, going from $0.7 billion in 2010 to $3 billion in 2014, a CAGR of 42 percent for the period. Including systems and panels, SBI Energy sees the world solar market growing to $173 billion in 2014 -- a CAGR of 28 percent.

Offshore Wind Farms -- Coastal area will have a new view as nations increasingly harness the renewable energy generated by the fierce winds a few miles off their shorelines. During the next five years, SBI Energy expects offshore wind farms to crop up at a much faster pace than land-based turbines.

Leading manufacturers of turbines and components are riding the wave of production expected to result from growing interest in offshore projects, such as the recent approvals of Cape Wind in Massachusetts and The Offshore Wind Economic Development Act in New Jersey. Helping them accelerate their offshore initiatives are government cash and tax incentives that promote renewable energy development, particularly in Europe and the US

"States are leading the way in off-shore wind development because it spurs economic development, helps to stabilize energy costs, and moves our country towards energy independence in a sustainable fashion," comments Donald Carcieri Governor of Rhode Island.

SBI Energy forecasts the global market to grow at a five-year CAGRof 11 percent to reach more than $78 billion. The fastest growth will come from the UK, which will more than double its offshore market value to reach nearly $5 billion in 2015.

Electric Vehicles -- For years, the marketing and advertising from government and car companies alike have boldly stated that electric cars will take over the car industry "real soon now."

Now, electric vehicles, in the form of hybrids that combine both gas and electric motors, are finally beginning to do just that. The world populace is accepting hybrid electric vehicles, giving them equal weight as an option in their car purchases. Just how quickly this market will grow depends on several factors including gas prices, government incentives and vehicle price.

According to market research from SBI Energy worldwide hybrid electric vehicle sales will double from just under 700,000 units sold in 2009 to 1.5 million passenger hybrid vehicles sold in 2014.

Exponential HEV market growth will occur in smaller existing markets such as Europe, Australia and South Korea, and in new markets such as India and China where product sold will increase from 95,000 vehicles in 2010 to 440,000 vehicles in 2014, a phenomenal 47 percent CAGR.

Smart Grid Technologies -- Implementing and integrating all of the renewable energies is somewhat contingent on the upgrade of our existing dilapidated 100 year old electrical grid to a powerful sophisticated smart grid system. The smart grid can be seen in broad outline as an architectonic structure consisting of three major sectors: grid infrastructure; information and communications technology (ICT); and applications and software (A/S).

Despite consumer concerns over privacy and cost regulation, the smart grid will encourage clean energy production and ensure reliable electrical supply to the world through digital grid operation and a distributed network.

SBI Energy sees the global smart grid market soaring upward nearly 150 percent between 2009 and 2014, reaching $171 billion in 2014. Meanwhile, the US market is projected to double over the timeframe to about $43 billion by 2014.