New Smart Grid research center... Allegheny launches pilots... Zigbee marches on

NSF creates important new Smart Grid research center. The U.S. National Science Foundation has announced a new engineering research center focused on the Smart Grid. The FREEDM Systems Center (Future Renewable Electric Energy Delivery and Management), headquartered at North Carolina State University, launches with partnerships with utilities, vendors, universities and national laboratories from 28 states and 9 countries. It targets the usual issues (renewables integration, DG, storage, etc.) grouped into 10  areas that will culminate in a 1MW “green energy hub” demonstration project. It is supported by a five-year, $18.5M NSF grant with an additional $10M in institutional and industry support.

   QuickTake: We can’t help wincing at YACA (Yet Another Corny Acronym). But it is a very good sign that the NSF has recognized the Smart Grid as one of the country’s most important research topics. Both utilities and vendors should take a look at FREEDM’s strategic plan and consider membership.

   NSF press release

   FREEDM home page

 

Allegheny launches Smart Grid pilots. Allegheny Power of Greensburg, PA has filed with the Maryland Public Service Commission for 13 energy efficiency programs and a Smart Grid pilot project. The energy efficiency programs target reductions from HVAC, production lines, motors, lighting and appliances. The “Advanced Utility Infrastructure” project targets 1,000 residential and commercial customers in the Urbana, MD area. It will incorporate pricing signals from PJM Interconnection, allowing customers to respond to changes in wholesale energy prices to manage their usage and overall costs. Augusta Systems of Morgantown, WV will design the pilot. The utility is underway on several other Smart Grid pilots as well.

   QuickTake: This is one of the first pilots to connect directly to a wholesale electricity market. Allegheny has promised to share the results with other utilities.

   MarketWatch article

 

Zigbee continues to gain wins. Demand response firm Comverge has announced Zigbee-compatible thermostats and load-control modules. Honeywell has added a Zigbee module for its UtilityPRO programmable thermostats. Several leading utilities are working with the Zigbee Alliance and the HomePlug Powerline Alliance to allow those two protocols to integrate seamlessly. Skyworks and Ember are teaming to build low-cost, low-power front-end modules. Sweden will be the site of the first city-wide Zigbee metering solution.

   QuickTake: Justifying our predictions two years ago, Zigbee is emerging as the clear standards leader for “home-area networking” (low-power, short-range wireless mesh networks).

   Comverge press release

   Honeywell press release

   Zigbee/HomePlug press release (PDF)

   Skyworks press release (PDF)

   Zigbee Alliance home page

 

GE teams with Eka. Itron chooses Tantalus. GE Energy has made its I-210+ meter family compatible with the EkaNet mesh networking system from Maryland-based startup Eka Systems. Meanwhile Itron is now offering modules for its CENTRON meters to make them compatible with communications networks from Tantalus Systems of Vancouver, BC.

   QuickTake: Remember choosing teams in gym class? A similar process is underway in the metering space, as the big firms craft end-to-end solutions via external partnerships. Watch for the partnerships that succeed to turn into acquisitions by the end of next year as we head into a consolidation phase.

   Eka Systems press release

   Tantalus press release

 

UTC report provides Smart Grid framework for utilities. Utilities seeking a step-by-step framework for their Smart Grid implementations can now turn to a new report from the Utilities Telecom Council. Titled Smart Grids: Building a Strategic Technology Roadmap, the report proposes four steps that culminate in a technology roadmap that reflects business priorities.

   QuickTake: Free to UTC members, $695 to non-members.

   Free Executive Summary

   Table of Contents

   Order form

 

Berg Insight report updates European smart metering market. Berg Insights has released the fifth edition of Smart Metering and Wireless M2M. The $1,421, 140-page report includes sales forecasts, trend analysis and case studies.

   QuickTake: Plenty to pay attention to in Europe, given that eleven countries have advanced metering deployments underway. France and Spain have announced massive projects that will total more than 50M meters.

   Free two-page Executive Summary (PDF)

   Table of Contents