Current trends
in energy supply and use, accompanied by rising greenhouse gas
(GHG) emissions, are unsustainable - economically, socially, and
environmentally - according to the International Energy Agency
(IEA). 

The U.S. government estimates that GHG emissions will increase
by 50% by 2030 and even with energy and fuel efficiency
improvements in transportation, buildings, and electric power
generation and consumption, emissions will still increase by 35%
during this same period. 

Driven by these trends, corporations are increasingly adopting
carbon management tools, both in the form of software platforms as
well as professional services designed to aid in carbon accounting
practices. 

According to a new report from href=”http://www.pikeresearch.com/”>Pike Research,
the global market for carbon management grew from $384 million in
2009 to $705 million in 2010, and the cleantech market intelligence
firm forecasts that it will expand further to a $5.7 billion
industry by 2017. 

These figures represent an upgrade to Pike Research’s previous
forecast published in the first quarter of 2010, which projected
that the market would reach $4.4 billion by 2017.  One
important market driver for this robust growth is because carbon
management is directly and indirectly benefitting from the
increasing desire among organizations to reduce and manage their
energy consumption.  Frequently, carbon management is becoming
synonymous with energy management.

“Growth in the carbon management market is occurring amidst a
turbulent industry landscape in which software vendors and service
providers are vigorously jockeying for competitive position,” says
senior analyst Marianne Hedin. 

“Pure-play carbon management companies are redefining themselves
as ‘energy management’ providers, and meanwhile large consulting
firms and IT services companies, as well as energy service
companies and building controls vendors, are expanding their
offerings in the space.”

Hedin adds that, as the carbon management market matures,
revenue from services will increase their lead over software
purchases as the largest industry segment.  She forecasts that
services will grow from 55% of the total market in 2010 to 67% by
2017.  While consulting and implementation services represent
the lion’s share of services spending today, spending for
outsourcing services will be on par with or exceed the other types
of services by 2016.

Pike Research’s report, href=”http://www.pikeresearch.com/research/carbon-management-software-and-services”
target=”_blank”>“Carbon Management Software and
Services”, examines global and regional carbon
management software and service trends, and forecasts market size
and growth prospects by region and different service segments for
the period from 2010 through 2017.  In addition, Pike Research
assesses the competitive landscape, including a SWOT analysis of
major carbon management vendors. 

An Executive Summary of the report is available for free
download on the firm’s href=”http://www.pikeresearch.com/research/carbon-management-software-and-services”
target=”_blank”>website.

Pike Research is a market research and consulting firm that
provides in-depth analysis of global clean technology
markets.  The company’s research methodology combines
supply-side industry analysis, end-user primary research and demand
assessment, and deep examination of technology trends to provide a
comprehensive view of the Smart Energy, Smart Grid, Smart
Transportation, Smart Industry, and Smart Buildings sectors