Leading smart grid innovator Portus has announced that it has commenced a project with Queensland’s Ergon Energy to trial electric vehicle integration with the electricity grid.

Fuji and GE have created a new Smart Grid solution company (GE Fuji Meter Ltd) to provide smart grid technology to the Japanese market. According to both companies the joint venture is to design, build, market and service a new generation of electric meters, supporting Japan’s advancement to a smart grid infrastructure. The joint venture was finalized on February 1, 2011 and they have selected GE Energy’s Daniel T. Nakano to head the new venture.

Marmitek today released a new HDMI 3D switch that allows you received videos content from up to five sources. The connect420 can connect to 5 HDMI devices to your TV with just one cable. The Connect420 supports other standards such as DVI, HDCP, CEC, Lipsync, EDID standards, Deep Colour (36bit), Dolby True HD & DTS HD in addition to 3D. The active switcher is also interruption-free as a result of solid metal, interference-free.

Tendril and Whirlpool have announced that they are going to collaborate on the development of a range of smart home appliances capable of interacting with the Smart Grid, like the LG Electronics THINQ range.  Whirlpool will integrate Tendril’s energy platform into the Whirlpool range of home appliances for the American market.  Both companies are at this year’s DistribuTECH showing prototypes of these products.

Ontario Information and Privacy Commissioner, Dr. Ann Cavoukian, along with Hydro One, GE, IBM and Telvent, today released a highly-anticipated report that shows the way forward for utilities working to embed privacy into the emerging Smart Grid.  

Savant Systems, the developer of the first Apple-based home automation and control system, has introduced a 16-channel class D amplifier  for distributed audio applications, called the AMP-1640.  The AMP-1640 is in direct response to market demand for a multi-room audio amplifier that leverages Savant’s elegant industrial design, delivering the same look and feel as Savant’s other rack mountable devices. AMP-1640 is the ideal solution when paired with Savant’s multi-room audio products and can be placed either on a shelf or within an equipment rack.

Sierra Wireless announced that Ambient Corporation has selected Sierra Wireless AirPrime embedded modules to provide 3G wireless connectivity for Ambient's latest X-series smart grid communications node, used by energy and utilities companies. The X-series smart grid node is part of the Ambient Smart Grid communications platform, which provides utilities with a critical link in building a modern energy infrastructure that enables connection with micro-generation and renewable energy sources.

Alstom Grid and S&C Electric Company announce their alliance to jointly develop smart grid solutions that demonstrate enhanced interoperability and next generation real-time self-healing networks between the Alstom Grid's e-terradistribution™ Integrated Distribution Management System (IDMS) and S&C's IntelliTEAM SG™ Automatic Restoration System.

Landis+Gyr announced the availability of its enhanced security solution for the Gridstream RF network that supports comprehensive network encryption and hardware solutions. This end-to-end security offering further solidifies Landis+Gyr's position as the premier provider of security solutions for smart grid systems.