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Smart grid platform wars heat up with Echelon entrance By SGN Staff Sep 8, 2010 - 1:44:56 PM
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Echelon Control System (ECoS), a new software platofrm for intelligent distributed control of the smart grid.ECoS will operate throughout the edge of the grid on the company's new Edge Control Node (ECN) 7000 series of open and expandable hardware solutions. "ECoS will move the grid beyond centralized reading of meters to a truly open, intelligent and distributed system that can monitor and react to an increasingly dynamic and demanding environment," said Ron Sege, Echelon president and CEO. "Even as demand for electricity grows and its supply becomes increasingly distributed, utilities can now enhance customer experience through improved reliability, accelerated response times and increased efficiencies." ECoS is expected to help utilities deal with next generation demand response challenges, maximize local grid efficiency, predict power outages, restore service fast and implement additional smart grid services. Echelon partner Duke Energy will be the first customer for the ECoS.
Jesse Berst's Take: We've been preaching about the importance of platforms for so long you're probably sick of it. Not long ago, we told you how this concept was at the core of Cisco's operating system for the grid. Now Echelon, known for building automation and smart meters, is throwing its hat into the platform ring. The key message you need to know: The Echelon offering "is to the smart grid what Android is to smart phones."
Who's going to win the platform wars? The company that does the best job of convincing developers to build cool new solutions on top of their framework. To know who's ahead, simply track how many "apps" are available for each platform.
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