New Cisco Initiatives Underscore Arrival of Smart Grid as Platform
Sep 17, 2009
Summary: Cisco ratcheted up its bid to become the centerpiece of the Smart Grid network today with its announcements of several initiatives related to its goal of providing end-to-end Smart Grid services and ensuring adoption of IP-based communications standards.The announcements centered on four new programs:
The formation of the Cisco Smart Grid Ecosystem, a Cisco-led professional organization
The creation of a Smart Grid Technical Advisory Board (TAB) for Cisco customers
New professional services focusing on Smart Grid security
A continuing campaign to support IP communications for the Smart Grid
Quick Take:As explained in today’s feature story (see link below), the Smart Grid is increasingly viewed as a platform that matches service providers to customers in much the same way as platforms like Microsoft Windows or the iPhone.We’ve been talking about this in a theoretical sense for some time; now it’s happening.
Cisco is clearly in the forefront of this movement, determined to own the Smart Grid ecosystem and control its communication standards. This approach represents a fundamental shift in the way Smart Grid is evolving.As it develops, it will begin to look more like the IT and networking sectors, not just in the platform approach but also in what companies dominate.Those companies that have done well in these areas will bring their skills to the Smart Grid.
Whether or not you join the Cisco camp, you need to study their approach. They have winning experience in the platform world; it’s their bread and butter.To make the transition, utilities are going to have to learn a new way to design infrastructure and buy products. For vendors, it means learning a new competitive landscape and finding your niche in the ecosystem.
More information:Cisco’s announcements fall into four key areas:
The Cisco Smart Grid Ecosystem is Cisco’s new organization for ensuring interoperability and driving acceptance of IP-based communications. Cisco leads this formally structured group based on agreements from participating system integrators, technology vendors, power and utility integrators, service providers, and services and sales vendors.The initial list of vendors includes Arcadian Networks, CapGemini, Infosys, Itron, Landis + Gyr, SecureLogix, Verizon, Wipro, Worldwide Technologies.
The Cisco Smart Grid Technical Advisory Board is a less formal collection of leading, innovative utility and energy customers from around the world.It exists to get feedback from customers on the kinds of service, support, and products Cisco should provide.
Cisco grid security services and solutions is a new set of professional services Cisco is providing to customers.Services include utility compliance assessment, physical site security vulnerability assessment, grid security architecture design, physical and networking security design, physical and network security deployment
Interoperability and IP-based communications standards continue to be at the top of Cisco’s goals. To that end, they have joined the Zigbee Alliance and will help develop Zigbee Smart Energy Profile 2.0 technology and products.
You should have included the entire list of initial vendors - Accenture, AeroScout, Arcadian Networks, AREVA T&D, Cable&Wireless Worldwide, Capgemini, Coleman Technologies, EMC, Echelon, EnergyHub, GE, GridPoint, Infosys Technologies, Itron, Landis + Gyr, OATI, Oracle, OSIsoft, Pulse Energy, Proximetry, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), SecureLogix, Schneider Electric, Siemens, Skyline-ATS, Telvent, Verizon, Watteco, Wipro, and World Wide Technology, Inc.
We all have something to offer to transform the industry.
Gerry Vurciaga - 09/23/2009 - 15:23
RE: Cisco Ecosystem
Gerry - Yes, each of the initially named members bring a very unique solution, skill set or geographic presence to help deploy an end to end solution.
The full list of initial partners is included in the press release and depending on each publication's geographic and demographic scope, they have listed all or some of them
Sanket Amberkar - 09/24/2009 - 10:32
Smart grid is a big boon to utilities, too.
1. As sustainable energy standards come into force, smart grid facilitates the integration of sustainable energy and smart meters are an indispensable part of the project.
2. Smart grid is about improving the efficiency of the system, or better demand management for utilities, too. That will lower operation costs of utilities, let alone staving off costly power outage.
3. It is also in the best interest of electricity utilities that EVs are going mainstream, namely, a big boon to utilities, thereby they need to put in charge stands where needed around highways, major roads with card readers or cell phone tech.
4. The vehicle-to-grid communication technology is helping the battery serve as a storage to prevent the costly blackout and preserve the power from sustainable energy. That means utilities are shedding cost for additional storage facilities and ratepayers are selling electricity during peak demand so that EVs can make more economic sense, as we know.
hsr0601 - 10/03/2009 - 20:23
Vehicle-to-Grid
I agree Vehicle-to-grid will be a great way to avoid black-outs, however no one is answering the question of who will service those batteries. The PHEV owner owns the battery, will the Utilities pay to use the batteries as storage or will the Utilities lease the use of the batteries for such a purpose. I have not been able to find a definiative answer to this question yet. Does any one else have any further information regarding this point?
We're getting mixed signals about the vitality of the smart grid market. On the one hand, the recent DistribuTECH conference was one of the most successful ever. On the other, a well-known Wall Street analyst recently told his clients that the smart metering sector is "facing several headwinds," including weak regulatory support in the U.S. and delays in European adoption. Taking the pulse of the smart grid industry is this week's Tuesday Topic.
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