PART 3 - We Asked … and You Told Us: Smart Grid Companies to Watch in 2010

We’re now on Day 3 of our look at Smart Grid companies readers nominated as ones to watch in 2010. (If you missed the first two installments, not to worry; they’re linked below.)

 

Here’s how this works: Our team reviewed all the nominations and did a preliminary sort. Posted below is the third set of Smart Grid companies that made the cut; we’ll run the remaining ones next week so be sure to check back. Also, what you see below are abbreviated versions of the text provided by the person who nominated the company; we have not verified the information for accuracy. Normally, we vet things before we pass them along to you. In this case, we wanted you to see what readers said themselves.

 

After we run your nominations we will suggest a few additional companies that we think belong on the list – and then you can vote to pick the 10 companies to watch in 2010.

 

Here is the third set of nominees, selected randomly:

 

BuLogics – A start-up eco-technology company based out of Philadelphia, PA, we have developed hardware and software that will connect the most popular wireless home automation technology (Z-Wave) to the Smart Grid, via any wireless standard.  We bridge that robust wireless mesh network to the smart grid by not relying on ONE standard in the meter -- we know that each utility will be using something different.

[Note from Jesse:  I'm not going to get into the war of Z-wave vs. Zigbee, but what is important is they are not going to rely on one standard. Bridging to other standards and giving utilities a choice is the key.]

BuLogics Web site

 

OSIsoft – As we strive to attain the Intelligent Electric System of our future, I have heard little about how we will handle the data tsunami coming our way. Put together there could be 113-300 MILLION discrete data streams to handle. The data points will require categorizing, analyzing, archiving, and eventually recall for billing, customer review, energy efficiency analysis, etc.  OSISoftware produces a tool that will handle large amounts of data from high discrete point counts.

[Note from Jesse: I agree 100% that the data tsunami is a huge problem that has to be solved quickly. In fact, we’re holding a Webinar on the topic on Jan. 20.]

OSIsoft Web site

 

Silver Spring Networks – We believe that our work to bring the Silicon Valley mindset to the T&D industry is paying off for SSN and for its customers. 2010 will be a big year for deployment. SSN is working with utilities that received more than $800 million in DOE funding. We will be helping those utilities extract as much value as possible from their investments in Smart Grid through new and innovative applications.

[Note from Jesse: I think Silver Spring Networks plays the thought leadership game better than anyone else – and that’s an important contribution to the industry as a whole.]

Silver Spring Networks Web site

 

Tropos Networks – Tropos Networks is leading the charge in delivering wireless IP broadband networks for the Smart Grid that meet five key objectives: resiliency, adaptability, high performance, security and control. As we move forward in Smart Grid deployments, Tropos standards-compliant, IP-based System Architecture supports the widest range of network applications.  For 2010 and beyond, we will be advancing the aggregation of smart Grid communications – enabling a full range of smart grid systems.

[Note from Jesse: Multiple value streams make sense; multiple uses of the communications infrastructure make sense. If it’s viable, it’s a great goal.]  

Tropos Networks Web site  

 

Viridity Energy – Not only do they have next-gen DR, but they uniquely allow the monetization of the savings. This is a well-funded company that has been flying under most of the radar. The CEO, Audrey Zibelman, is not only a superstar in the grid world (ex-COO of PJM Interconnection) but her husband, Phil Harris (ex-CEO of PJM), is the “father” of the Tres Amigas project in NM, designed to connect the East, West, and Texas grids.

[Note from Jesse: This is indeed an example of next-gen demand response. Viridity is working hard to take it to the next level in a highly competitive market with easier packaging for utilities and more cost compelling for customers.]

Viridity Energy Web site

 

Check back next week for more nominees for 2010's Smart Grid companies to watch.  

 

More on SGN …

PART 1: Smart Grid Companies to Watch

PART 2: Smart Grid Companies to Watch

PART 4: Smart Grid Companies to Watch

PART 5: Smart Grid Companies to Watch 

 

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