So far, integrating renewables into the smart grid has been a lot of talk with little action. But turnabout is fair play as renewables begin to take a more central role in the smart grid.

Over the next several years, the market opportunity for smart-grid technologies that enable the integration of renewables will expand to nearly $4 billion in 2012 and $13 billion by 2018, with activity in microgrids and remote microgrids, according to Pike Research.

So far, renewables integration has been limited to pilot programs and long-range planning, but Pike predicts that will change as many utilities launch comprehensive programs and place significant investments in the ability of the smart grid to lower the costs of integrating renewable generation at the transmission, distribution, and residential levels.