The European utilities market, consisting of electricity, gas and water/waste management markets, grew at a CAGR of 16% during 2003–07. Leading players in this market are having to overcome a number of challenges to secure future growth, including infrastructure obstacles in distribution and transmission networks, energy security issues, increasing EU guidelines on environmental policies and the adoption of expensive renewable technologies.

‘The Top 10 European Utility Companies’ is a new report that examines the competitive landscape of the European utilities industry. This report examines the revenue performance by business segment and growth strategies of each of the top 10 European utilities companies. It also assesses the opportunities and threats facing each of these leading players. This report examines the size, growth and major trends of the industry, in addition to providing an assessment of leading European utilities providers outside of the top 10.


Key Findings

The European utilities market was worth $999bn (P729bn) in 2007, an increase of 20.7% since 2006. Power utilities accounted for 47.0% of the total European utilities market by value in 2007, followed by gas utilities (35.0%) and water utilities (18.0%).

EDF is the largest player in the European utilities market, with a revenue share of 7.9% in 2007. The company generated revenues worth $79.1m (W57.7m) in 2007, an increase of 18.1% over 2006.

Investment in hydropower, wind farms and biomass have reduced coal/fuel oil-based power generation from 44% of total European power generation in 1995, to 37% in 2007. European power generation is undergoing a steady shift from fossil fuels towards more efficient renewable energy sources, supported by the EU’s effort to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

E.ON is the second largest player in the European utilities industry, with a market share of 6.7%, based on 2007 sales. E.ON is developing its generation portfolio and modernizing its distribution network in key markets such as Germany, Central Europe and the UK, and plans to invest $44bn (W30bn) during 2009–11 to strengthen its infrastructure and customer base.

Use this report to...

• Compare the performance of the top 10 players in the European utilities industry with this report’s analysis of revenues by business segment for Centrica, E.ON, EDF, Enel, Eni, GasTerra, Gazprom, GDF SUEZ, RWE, Scottish and Southern Energy.

• Understand the market dynamics of the European utilities industry, examine the drivers and resistors to industrial growth and understand the key trends that are shaping the future of power, gas and water utilities.

• Assess the future prospects of the top 10 European utilities providers with this report’s analysis of each firm’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, in addition to an analysis of their individual business segments and growth strategies.

• Benchmark the progress of other leading utilities companies in Europe by evaluating the business segments and financial performances of Veolia Environnement, EnBW, Edison, Vattenfall, EDP, Atel, Iberdrola, National Grid, CEZ Group, Dong Energy.

Explore issues including...

High levels of growth. Between 2003 and 2007, the European utilities market grew at a CAGR of 16% in dollar terms and almost 11% in Euro terms, opening up a significant market opportunity. Long term, economic growth in Central and Eastern Europe will continue to drive growth in the power market.

Industry consolidation. With increasing market liberalization in the EU, significant consolidation is occurring as utility companies seek to achieve scale and exposure to improve their competitive positioning.

Shift towards renewables and nuclear power. There is a movement towards green energy and nuclear as power generators seek to invest away from fossil fuels, in particular plans in Italy and the UK to bring several new plants on stream

Discover...

• What are the major trends in the European utilities industry?

• Who are the top 10 players in the market?

• What is the market share of each leading company?

• What are the strengths and weaknesses of the top 10 players?

• What are the growth strategies of the top 10 companies?

• What are the key opportunities for the top 10 European utilities companies?

• How have leading companies outside of the top 10 performed?