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Quick Take: Some projects you do just for the money. (Not that there's anything wrong with that!) Other projects have additional benefits. Like pioneering a new market. Or benefiting the planet. Here's a new project announcement from Silver Spring Networks that appears to accomplish all three.

 

The project partners SSN with a European telecom giant, Cable&Wireless Worldwide. To those who have wondered when, where and how SSN might penetrate the growing European market, this provides one possible answer. - By Jesse Berst

 

The Ecoisland Partnership is the UK's largest energy sustainability project so far, with a goal of making the Isle of Wight completely energy self-sufficient by 2020. Silver Spring Networks and Cable&Wireless Worldwide have just announced they are on board as the project's global communications partner to provide the smart grid platform that will connect renewable energy technologies, the electric grid and all homes and businesses on the island into an integrated system.

 

The Ecoisland Partnership plans to achieve its aggressive self-sufficiency goal with the implementation of wind, solar, geothermal and tidal renewable technologies that provide clean, efficient and reliable energy to the grid.

 

It will be the UK's first fully integrated, self-sustaining smart grid system and, in addition to bringing large amounts of renewable energy into the grid, it is intended to help the community more efficiently manage supply and demand. The project also is expected to lower the cost of living and improve the quality of life on the Isle of Wight – and to make the case for energy sustainability to the rest of the world.

 

SSN and C&W Worldwide will deploy what they describe as "ubiquitous, secure, low-cost connectivity for the smart grid that will be leveraged across a broad set of secure, pervasive, IPv6-based smart grid and smart metering initiatives."

 

"Our partnership with Ecoisland underscores our commitment to delivering the benefits of a truly smart energy grid to the UK. Our mission is to improve lives by transforming the global delivery of energy. Together with Cable&Wireless Worldwide, we will be working toward creating a unique communications network footprint on the island that can be used to connect smart meters and other smart grid devices," said James Pace, managing director for UK/Ireland of SSN.

 

The collaboration between SSN and C&W Worldwide is the second UK smart grid project partnership for the two companies announced in the last few months.

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Jesse Berst is the founder and chief analyst of Smart Grid News.com. He consults to smart grid companies seeking market entry advice and M&A advisory. A frequent keynoter at industry events in the US and abroad, he also serves on the Advisory Council of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's Energy & Environment directorate.

 

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