It is once again time to gaze into our green crystal ball and ask what green business trends will dominate the year ahead?

You can judge the success of last year's predictions for yourself, but if 2011 has taught us anything it is that there will be plenty of shocks and surprises in store as the global green economy continues to be influenced by countless external forces.

However, a few trends and technologies look nailed on for next year, and all forward-thinking businesses should be aware of them.

1. The oil price is going nowhere

Barring the complete collapse of the global economy the oil price looks set to remain largely above the $100 a barrel mark.

A recent poll of analysts by Reuters predicted Brent would average $105 a barrel this year, down fractionally on 2010's record high of $111 a barrel. Oil producing countries have got used to what were once regarded as high prices and will be reluctant to see prices drop too far. Depending on your point of view, this is because of the power of the OPEC cartel or the simple fact they cannot increase supplies as easily as they once did.

Either way, high oil prices will mean further upward pressure on food prices, and all the tensions that implies. It also means that the case for investment in energy and fuel efficiency, as well as renewable energy capacity, will remain as strong as ever.

2. The carbon price could go anywhere

The record lows experienced by the EU carbon price in the final months of 2011 have finally prompted policymakers to take action. A key European Parliament Committee has voted in favour of a plan to push the price upwards and Denmark has vowed to use its presidency to tackle the issue.

The question is how any interventions will be structured and whether they can work. Any attempt to restrict the supply of carbon allowances remains at the mercy of political forces and would prove ineffective anyway if the Eurozone crisis escalates and demand falls.

Regardless of what happens, it will be another disorientating year for the carbon markets.

Smart meters are a smart bet

It is one of the most overlooked aspects of the government's green agenda. The UK is committed to installing smart meters in all buildings by 2018, providing an omnipresent hub for both building management technologies and the long-promised smart grid.

If this target is to be met the roll out of smart meters needs to start cranking up a gear pretty soon. Expect to see smart meter firms and the large IT and energy firms that are working with them raising their profile in the months ahead.

We'll all want to plug-in to plug-in hybrids

If electric cars like the impressive Nissan Leaf are the trail-blazers, plug-in hybrids could be the game-changer the auto industry has been looking for.

The prospect of a car than can travel distances of up to 40 miles using zero emission electric power before switching to a petrol or diesel engine for longer journeys promises to overcome the biggest objection to electric cars, the fear the battery will run out.

The high profile Vauxhall Ampera and Toyota Plug-in hybrid will create a lot of buzz this year and assuming the cars offer reasonable performance they could quickly become the default option for green-minded motorists and cost conscious fleet operators.

Green Deal Breaker

The government's flagship green policy will finally launch in October and will either resoundingly answer its critics, or prove an appalling damp squib.

Ministers have invested a huge amount of political capital in the innovative energy efficiency financing scheme, and will want to see the scheme get off to a vibrant start. Around £200m has already been promised to help drive take up of the scheme and expect to see the government pull out all the stops to ensure early adopters take up the offer of energy efficiency makeovers.

Feed-in tariff frustration

There is still no end in sight to the solar feed-in tariff scandal that dominated the final few months of 2011 and its looks as if frustration and uncertainty will continue to characterise the scheme during the first half of 2012.

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