Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (tokyo:6503) announced today that it has begun full-scale tests of smart grid and related smart-community technologies at the company's production sites in Japan. The aim of the project is to develop and test products including commercial systems, equipment and solutions for annual sales worth 1.3 trillion yen (about 17 billion USD) by March 2016.
Landis+Gyr today announced it has been selected by Nashville Electric Service to install the smart grid network that will support the utility's immediate advanced metering and demand response needs, while making future smart grid projects easier to implement.
The installation of Landis+Gyr's Gridstream network will enable Nashville Electric Service to meet demand response requirements from power supplier Tennessee Valley Authority, as well as provide high-speed advanced metering and distribution automation communications throughout the utility's service territory.
The IEEE 2030 protocol which will support the accelerated rollout of the smart grid in Brazil is to be launched officially at the upcoming annual Metering Latin America in Sao Paulo from 25 October. The event will once again unite utilities, smart metering and smart grids experts, regulators and global technology giants during the same month that Brazil’s energy regulator Aneel will announce the first of two regulations regarding the implementation of smart meters nationwide, which will officially launch a billion dollar smart meter installation rollout in Brazil.
IBM has joined a collaborative consortium to help develop an energy grid that uses at least 50 percent of renewable energy sources, such as wind power, solar energy and biogas. Led by a European Union-funded consortium, the EcoGrid EU project will demonstrate a smart energy grid that will allow smart devices to use renewable electricity based on near real-time pricing and availability.
Tollgrade Communications, Inc. today announced that it has partnered with Echelon Corporation, an industry leading open-standard energy control networking company, to provide a solution that offers real-time visibility into the power distribution network and grid analytics to monitor usage and demand. Tollgrade developed an application, LightHouse, for Echelon's Control Operating System (COS) that delivers end-to-end smart grid analytics to prevent outages, reduce operating expense through asset and vegetation management, and protect revenue for utilities.
Airspan Networks announced that it has been chosen by Salzburg AG Austria, with integrator partner Zehetner Elektronik, for a Smart Grid 4G deployment in Salzburg, Austria.
Digi International today announced that Siemens AG is using Digi X-Grid Solutions to enhance its smart metering product with a web-based energy consumption and management platform for consumers. The Digi X-Grid is an "Extended Grid" that enables real-time, IP-based monitoring and control of home energy devices beyond the electric meter.
Twelve major players in the smart grid industry are announcing a new global partnership at the Metering Europe Conference in Amsterdam (October 4 - 6, 2011) to support the deployment of the new power line communications protocol called G3-PLC. The partners in the association are led by major players in the smart grid sector, including Enexis, ERDF, Maxim Integrated Products, STMicroelectronics, Texas Instruments, Cisco, Itron, Landis & Gyr, Nexans, Sagemcom and Trialog.
The City of Fort Collins Utilities has selected Siemens Energy, Inc. for the implementation of eMeter EnergyIP meter data management system (MDMS) for their Advanced Meter project, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Fort Collins is a progressive utility located in northern Colorado and serves both electric and water consumers. Fort Collins was looking to work with a company that could help achieve business process efficiency, facilitate peak reductions, realize system and operational improvements, and provide consumers with more flexibility.
While much of the smart grid development in Europe mirrors programs underway in North America and other parts of the globe, there are important differences in priorities and emphasis. In particular, aggressive goals for energy efficiency and carbon emissions reductions are major drivers for smart grid and smart meter deployments in Europe. Over the next five to 10 years, these deployments will be closely linked with the achievement of 2020 carbon reduction goals in the European Union.