Smart Grid Update - Communication & Data

Weekly Intelligence Brief 15 - 22 February 2012

ksdicks — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 17:50:51 +0000

Précis:

Itron buys SmartSynch for $100m Companies mentioned: Siemens, TIBCO, Consolidated Edison, Fujitsu Laboratories of America, A123 Systems, Northern Powergrid, Corn Belt Power Cooperative, Exalt Communication, Itron, SmartSynch, Petra Solar, and Jordan Enterprise Development Corporation

Weekly Intelligence Brief 15 - 22 February 2012

Itron buys SmartSynch for $100m

Meter giant Itron has acquired privately held SmartSynch for $100 million, to bring greater choice to utilities across the spectrum of smart metering deployments. Mississippi-based SmartSynch provides point-to-point smart grid solutions that utilize a cellular network for communications and has more than 130 customers, including nine of the top ten utilities in North America.

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Consumer demand response market to transform utilities into service companies

Jason Deign — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 15:35:38 +0000

Précis:

Utilities have a critical need to get consumers to help out with demand response. But what’s in it for the person on the street?

What has a power utility got in common with an estate agent? The answer, according to Richard St Clair, managing director of the metering company Elster in the UK, is that the average consumer is not particularly keen on hearing from either.

“You don’t want to interact with your utility,” he guesses. But utilities will need that to change. You have got something they want. And it is not just your money: increasingly, it is part of the energy you consume.

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Automated Demand Response hits Europe for first time

Elisabeth Jeffries — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:31:14 +0000

Précis:

Supply contracts look promising as an automated demand response (ADR) system common in the US is to be introduced in Europe for the first time. OEM acquisitions of ADR supportive technology is also ramping up.

The ADR, which depends on specialist software, provides utilities with two-way communication with energy management systems in commercial and industrial sites and is intended for up to 30 buildings in Bracknell, Berkshire. What are the benefits and why now?

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Smart Grid Update Policy and Commission Brief 15 February 2012

ksdicks — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:16:29 +0000

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DOE sets smart energy budget, goals for smart grid Companies mentioned: US Department of Energy, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 99 Restaurants, and Chili’s restaurants

Smart Grid Update Policy and Commission Brief 15 February 2012

DOE sets budget, goals for smart grid

A total of $60m has been earmarked for the US energy budget for research on energy-storage and battery systems. However, the energy-storage sub-programme will receive $5m less from the previous budget, due to what the administration says is scaled-back research on sodium-ion and lithium-ion batteries for community energy storage.

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Weekly Intelligence Brief 8 – 15 February 2012

ksdicks — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:53:54 +0000

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Cinterion bags Linyang Electronics supply deal Companies mentioned: Cinterion, Gemalto, Linyang Electronics, State Grid Corporation of China, Accenture, UtiliData, Braemer Energy Ventures, Efacec, 350 Green, and University at Buffalo

Weekly Intelligence Brief 8 – 15 February 2012

Cinterion bags Linyang deal

Cellular M2M modules maker Cinterion and a Gemalto have won contract to supply Linyang Electronics. The Chinese company will be integrating Cinterion's BGS2 in their smart metering products and power utilization management terminals.

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AlertMe CEO Mary Turner: "smart homes the new email"

Katherine Steiner-Dicks — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:17:04 +0000

Précis:

Following the recent partnership with Lowe’s, the second largest home improvement company in the world, Mary Turner, CEO of AlertMe, the UK-based smart home technology company, chats to Smart Grid Update about cracking the US market and being on the cusp of the next big technology revolution.

When a UK venture-backed business not only cracks the US retail market, but cracks it with a company with 1,725 stores in the United States, Mexico and Canada, and nearly $50bn in annual revenues and 15 million weekly shoppers, you know they’re onto something big.

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Weekly Intelligence Brief 26 Jan. – 1 February 2012

ksdicks — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:20:18 +0000

Précis:

NREL launches plug-n-play testing Companies mentioned: Energy Systems Integration Facility (ESIF) at NREL, Johnson Controls, EnergyConnect, Elster, Wide Bay Water, A1, BIES, SAIC, and Intelligent Energy Systems

Weekly Intelligence Brief 26 Jan. – 1 February 2012

Plug-n-play pre-grid testing at NREL

The US Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is building electrically interconnected laboratories as part of its Energy Systems Integration Facility (ESIF) where research partners can literally plug in and test new energy technologies on real and simulated power systems before hooking them up to the grid.

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Turning power grids into communication highways

Jason Deign — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:25:20 +0000

Précis:

Smart grid operators need to find ways to turn power networks into communications networks. And there is no shortage of options.

Yoav Zingher, director and co-founder of KiWi Power, has a neat way of summarising the value of his company’s demand response offering. “We’re trying to replace the power from peaking power stations,” he says. “We turn demand patterns into what looks like a power station.”

This matching of demand more accurately to output, rather than throwing more energy at the peak power problem, is at the heart of how smart grids can benefit utilities and their customers, and ultimately cut as much greenhouse gas as a host of renewable energies.

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Weekly Intelligence Brief 18 – 25 January 2012

ksdicks — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:00:55 +0000

Précis:

Tendril, BMW to build smart energy home demo Companies mentioned: Tendril, BMW Group Technology, KiWi Power, Ofgem, Northern Power Grid, Itron, IBM, Vermont Electric Power Company, ClipperCreek, Silver Spring, Pacific Control Systems, and Infotility

Weekly Intelligence Brief 18 – 25 January 2012

Tendril and BMW to build smart energy demo home

Energy cloud platform developer, Tendril, and the BMW Group Technology Office USA are partnering to build out a demonstration smart energy home in Mountain View, California to prepare for the roll-out and integration of the new BMW ActiveE electric vehicle (EV).

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Eastern protocols and the pan-Asian energy network

Jason Deign — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 12:13:36 +0000

Précis:

An ambitious plan to connect energy systems from China to Australia raises the question of whether such grand designs could help shape the nature of smart grid protocols in the region.

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Rescue plans on the rise to mitigate smart grid security risks

John Johnson — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:34:33 +0000

Précis:

Utilities are scrambling to come to grips with what one industry expert refers to as a “near state of chaos.” But a 'what if case by case scenario' approach could help alleviate future problems when the EV revolution arrives.

Pike Research analyst Bob Lockhart says that security issues facing the electrical grid continue to be a major topic of discussion as utilities around the world roll out smart grid deployments.

However, despite an increased focus on security, Lockhart says that the cyber security challenges faced by utilities are nowhere close to being resolved. He predicts that the industry will continue to face serious hurdles in the coming years.

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Weekly Intelligence Brief 20 Dec. – 5 January 2012

ksdicks — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 13:41:15 +0000

Précis:

Mitsubishi claims UK’s largest EV dealer network Companies mentioned: Mitsubishi, Honeywell, Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area, ECP, Smart Grid Initiative, SmartSynch, Itron, Landis+Gyr, ComEd, and KEMA

Weekly Intelligence Brief 20 Dec. – 5 January 2012

Mitsubishi claims UK’s largest EV dealer network

Japanese carmaker Mitsubishi has ambitious plans to tap the future electric vehicle market in the UK and is claiming it will provide the UK's largest dealer network for electric cars. The launch is in preparation for the car maker’s launch of its new plug-in hybrid expected to hit the market in the next 18 months.

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UK needs a life-support system for networks under growing pressure

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 12:20:22 +0000

Précis:

David Pitcher, UK Country Manager for Power Plus Communications, a smart grid and meter communications network specialist, outlines the opportunities and challenges ahead for distribution network operators in the UK.

By David Pitcher, UK Country Manager Power Plus Communications

The UK is moving towards a smart grid model for its energy market. This intelligent power generation and distribution system will drive a fundamental change in the way we consume energy, automatically balancing and controlling supply and demand to maximise use of energy at minimal cost.

The communication infrastructure is the beating heart of the smart grid concept, empowering customers to play a far more active role and take control of their energy consumption and carbon emissions.

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Smart grid communications networks: are we looking at them in the right way?

Gail Rajgor — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 11:58:57 +0000

Précis:

Joined up thinking by reverse engineering the big picture could create a truly holistic smart network that works for everyone

When it comes to designing smart grid communications networks the options are boundless. Utilities could opt for a fairly basic network that only does meter reading or diagnostics.

They could invest in more sophisticated systems which also integrate applications like commercial area networking capabilities, speech automation, SCADA functions, distribution automation, substation automation, equipment delivery tracking, and more besides.

Others could also integrate public services offerings, such as internet and Wi-Fi capability.

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Tom Doggett, Calico: "We've created a major leap forward in a utility’s ability to understand energy use"

ksdicks — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:08:16 +0000

Précis:

Calico’s co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer, Tom Doggett, speaks to Smart Grid Update to shed some light on how the company’s software platform can help utilities overcome smart grid challenges.

Founded in 2004, Calico Energy has been working inside utilities to help manage their energy data.

The typical utility has a hodgepodge of systems – ranging from demand response programs to finance to billing to customer support – systems that have not been able to ‘speak to each other’ due to proprietary formats and siloed architecture.

This segregation of data makes it extraordinarily difficult to present information in a meaningful way or make important business decisions.

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Weekly Intelligence Brief 15 – 21 December 2011

ksdicks — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 13:40:06 +0000

Précis:

EnVerv makes close on $12m series B round Companies mentioned: EnVerv, Benchmark Capital, Taiwanese Ministry of Economic Affairs, UK Energy Research Centre, RuggedCom, Belden, PowerSecure International, General Electric Global Research Institute, Itron and Eléctrica de Guayaquil

Weekly Intelligence Brief 15 – 21 December 2011

EnVerv closes $12m round

EnVerv, a US-based fabless semiconductor company developing high performance Communications System on Chip (SoC) solutions for the smart grid market, has closed a $12m series B round of funding led by Benchmark Capital. Existing backers NEA and Walden International also invested in this latest round.

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Nordics to provide valuable smart grid lessons

Peter Taberner — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 11:10:53 +0000

Précis:

The power hungry Nordics are pressured to rapidly develop smart meter and grid networks to harness additional renewables and nuclear power plants. These nations will offer valuable lessons worldwide, notably as their advanced cross border grids come to fruition.

Finland and Denmark can claim to have made significant progress with their respective smart grids.

The Danes have managed to produce more power than most countries on its smart grid from renewables, even though its grid is yet to be fully rolled out, and with a plethora of pilot schemes from renewable energy projects in place, the trends it has set itself are set to continue.

Market drivers

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Intelligence Brief 1 – 14 December 2011

ksdicks — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 14:58:10 +0000

Précis:

Consolidation starts with eMeter takeover Companies mentioned: Siemens Industry, eMeter, UISOL, Glendale Water & Power, EIB, Iberdrola, ERCOT, Alstom Grid, Transco, Entergy, ITC, Bangalore Electricity Supply Company and Syscon Hefcom Smart Solutions

Intelligence Brief 1 – 14 December 2011

Signs of consolidation with Siemens' eMeter takeover

Siemens Industry has signed an agreement to acquire all of the stock of California-based eMeter. Corporation, The parties expect to close the deal in December 2011, subject to necessary approvals and customary closing conditions. The parties will not disclose the terms of the agreement.

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Pinpointing the market drivers to a successful smart meter market

Peter Taberner — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 11:56:44 +0000

Précis:

The smart grid technology and meter market may be lacking the kind of direction that it requires, but there is still a plethora of ideas and technology breakthroughs that threaten to advance the market in the future.

First of all we should remind ourselves just how important that smart grid communities actually are. There have been trial communities and urban scale implementations that have brought successes in crucial aspects of smart grid technology such as consumer savings. According to GTM research it is in the municipalities where smart grid initiatives are making their mark where they have water, electricity, public safety and services.

Role of social media

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Smart Communications for Energy Management 2012

admin — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 14:16:35 +0000

Event Date:

Tue, 2012-03-27 - Wed, 2012-03-28

Event URL:

http://www.smartgridupdate.com/smart-communications-forum/

Event Location:

Marriott Marquis Hotel, Atlanta, GA

Number of attendees:

120

Programme URL:

http://www.smartgridupdate.com/smart-communications-forum/agenda.php

Event Organiser:

Baruch Hecht

Event Organiser E-mail:

bhecht@smartgridupdate.com

Précis:

Optimize energy management with a robust, cost efficient, integrated communications network

Smart Grid: Are utilities preparing for the security threats?

ksdicks — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 14:41:56 +0000

Précis:

The bad news is smart grids could open up utilities to a whole host of new threats. The good news is they already know that, and may even be able to turn security into a value add.

By Jason Deign in Barcelona

A youth hacks into his smart meter and threatens to cut the power to the New York Stock Exchange unless his ransom demands are met. It sounds like the script to a Hollywood movie.

And while a hacker attack of this type might be theoretically possible, utilities are trying hard to ensure that this is as close to reality as it gets.

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Data: cashing in on the new utility commodity

ksdicks — Wed, 04 May 2011 14:23:48 +0000

Précis:

With the advent of smart grid technologies and the deployment of millions of smart meters, utilities and their customers now have access to mountainous piles of data that they’ve never possessed before. We look into which firms are using data for revenue-enhancing objectives and why data is becoming the jewel in the utility sector’s crown.

By John R. Johnson

While customers are beginning to take advantage of that new data to learn about usage habits and how to conserve energy, utilities are using the treasure trove of new data for a host of reasons, chief among them revenue-enhancing programs, improving customer service and deploying assets in the field more efficiently.

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Smart Grid Update Trends Roundtable Report 2011: DATA MANAGEMENT

ksdicks — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 14:08:28 +0000

Précis:

In this week’s trends roundtable report we look at the areas of data collection and data mining and how these could be best utilized to provide valuable information to utilities and consumers.

Data collection and data mining are hot topics in the smart grid discussion these days. A massive amount of data is being collected from all the devices being deployed but no one seems to have figured out how to manage this data, and what to do with it. Unless the data is transformed into actionable information, it is useless.

Interview by SmartGridUpdate Staff

How do you best leverage the data being collected from the field? Does all the data need to be brought back to the substations and command centers? And is there a data storage shortage problem?

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Trend Perspectives Report: Communication Network Development

ksdicks — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 07:26:09 +0000

Précis:

SMART GRID TECHNOLOGY TRENDS IN 2011Over the next few editions of Smart Grid Update we will be posing the big questions to the industry experts in an effort to get their varying perspectives on the trends that will ultimately shape the smart grid industry. This week we take a look at communication network development and which approach will be the most effective.

Interview by SmartGridUpdate Staff

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Harvesting smart grid data in a digitalized world

ksdicks — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 06:55:12 +0000

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Smart meter and utility suppliers alike see the immediate potential for smart grid data analysis. But will customers ultimately feel burdened or enlightened with how the data is presented?

By John R. Johnson, Boston

As millions of smart meters are deployed across the U.S., huge piles of new usage data are bombarding utilities and their customers. An industry that used to rely on vital data just once a month for billing suddenly has access to near-real time usage information.

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IBM and Cable & Wireless: "Partnering is crucial"

ksdicks — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 12:22:17 +0000

Précis:

Laurence Carpanini, Director of Smart Meters and Smart Grids, IBM UK & Ireland and Amy Cook, Strategic Business Development Director at Cable & Wireless Worldwide take a break from their hectic schedules to get us up to speed on their UK Smart Energy Cloud collaboration.

Interview by Katherine Steiner-Dicks

IBM and Cable&Wireless Worldwide have joined forces to develop what they believe will be a new intelligent data and communications solution for the burgeoning UK smart grid sector. The solution they refer to also has a name, UK Smart Energy Cloud, which will be targeted at the UK's Smart Meter Implementation Programme, which aims to rollout over 50 million smart meters in the UK in the next decade.

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