Recent extensions to UPnP’s (Universal Plug n’ Play’s) Power Systems Series of Device Control Protocols offer utilities and smart grid application developers an ideal bridge and interface between smart grid communications systems and household Home Area Networks, according to a UPnP white paper released yesterday.
Universal Plug n’ Play Offers Bridge Between Smart Grid and Home Networking Systems
Posted by: Steve Senne | January 9th, 2012 | No Comments »
Zigbee is an Increasingly Important Force in Smart Grid
Posted by: Steve Senne | December 6th, 2011 | No Comments »
Smart grid and automated meter reading applications will drive revenues for Zigbee (IEEE 802.15.4) semiconductor chipsets over $1 billion in 2015. Just over 71% of the increased demand will come from the market for smart grids and automated meter reading, according to NPD In-Stat’s “802.15.4 and Zigbee” research report.
USDA Grants $300M in Loans for Rural Electric Coops, Smart Grid Investments
Posted by: Mike Boehne | August 30th, 2011 | No Comments »
Acting through the US Dept. of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service, the Obama administration and USDA has granted $900 million in loans to rural electric cooperatives to finance upgrade, expand, maintain and replace electric generation and transmission infrastructure. More than $19 million of the total has been earmarked for smart grid technology projects.
New Home Networking/Smart Energy Consortium Created
Posted by: Mike Boehne | August 7th, 2011 | No Comments »
Several organizations involved with home networking and the smart grid announced August 2 that they have created a consortium focused on interoperability issues involving Smart Energy Profile 2 (SEP 2).
SEP 2, which can operate on a variety of IP-based technologies, was selected in 2009 by the National Institute of Standards and Technology as a standard profile for smart energy management in home devices. Organizations participating in the new consortium include The HomePlug Alliance, Wi-Fi Alliance, HomeGrid Forum and ZigBee Alliance.
Kansas City Board Chooses Tropos for Smart Grid, Wireless Broadband Network
Posted by: Steve Senne | August 1st, 2011 | No Comments »
The Kansas City Board of Public Utilities has chosen Tropos GridCom to provide the communications infrastructure aggregating smart grid applications across its 127-square mile territory. The publicly-owned utility is building out a smart grid for both water and electricity, according to a press release.
Auburn, Indiana Leverages FTTH for SmartGrid Project
Posted by: Mike Boehne | July 26th, 2011 | No Comments »
Back in 1985, the northeastern Indiana city of Auburn installed a fiber optic communications network backbone. Today, the municipality announced that it was leveraging its telecoms infrastructure further, selecting a smart grid communications backbone from Tantalus as it moves forwards with plans to install an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) that will cover both electricity and water services.
USDA: Goal to Invest $250 Million in Smart Grid Over Next 12 Months
Posted by: Mike Boehne | June 14th, 2011 | No Comments »
Yesterday, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced plans aimed at “modernizing the nation’s electric grid”. The USDA’s goal is to invest $250 million across 10 states to improve electric services to customers.
Vilsack said, “This is one more step in our effort to modernize rural America’s electric grid.” Smart grid technologies give consumers greater control over their electric costs and help utilities efficiently manage power generation and delivery.”
5 Million Smart Meters Shipped in First Quarter 2011
Posted by: Steve Senne | June 10th, 2011 | No Comments »
Worldwide, the smart meter market grew by 22.7% year-over-year from 1Q2010 to 1Q2011, with almost 5 million meters shipped in 1Q2011, the quarter with the second highest meters shipped, trailing only 2Q2010. According to forecasts from IDC Energy Insights, by 2015, worldwide sales will exceed 71 million meters shipped. IDC expects growth in coming years to come from the Asian Pacific markets. Other markets for growth include Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, where meters shipped grew by over 43% in Q12011.
Chattanooga’s EPB Partners With Alcatel-Lucent for SmartGrid Apps
Posted by: Steve Senne | June 1st, 2011 | No Comments »
Leveraging its investment in a gigabit passive optical network (GPON), Chattanooga’s municipal broadband provider and electricity distributor EPB is working with Alcatel Lucent, provider of EPB’s GPON, to develop a cutting edge smart grid network and management system.
TXU Energy Adds Mobile Bill Pay to Growing Customer Smart Grid Suite
Posted by: Steve Senne | May 27th, 2011 | No Comments »
Dallas’s TXU Energy continues to innovate it when it comes to demand-side smart grid development. The electric utility has launched a customer Web site designed specifically for mobile phone users. The new site enables customers to access their accounts and pay bills through Web-enabled wireless devices, according to a TXU press release.
