New York Times: Utilities Seek Fresh Talent for Smart Grids

By TOM ZELLER Jr.

Published: December 29, 2010

By some estimates, the smart gridcould help reduce electricity use by more than 4 percent a year by 2030 and save $20 billion a year for utilities and ...

Rise of electric cars prompt 'smart' electrical grids in Portugal

Portugal’s long-term target of 750,000 electric cars fits with its smart energy plans. Already, the country has 40 percent of its energy coming from renewable sources.

SmartGridnews.com: Smart grid companies to watch in 2011? We’re taking your nominations now

Dec 21, 2010 

Which companies will we all be talking about next year? Which ones will be out in front, leading the smart grid charge? Nominate your picks for the 11 smart grid companies you think should be on our radar in 2011.

All you have to do to nominate a company for the SGN 11 is enter it in the TalkBack form below or send an email tonominations@smartgridnews.com. Be sure to include the name of the company and a quick explanation why you think it will be a 2011 Smart Grid superstar. But hurry: Nominations must be received by midnight on Jan. 5 to be considered.

Our SGN 10 revisited

How did the companies you chose as last year's most promising fare? From the quick updates below, it looks like our savvy readers did a pretty stellar job of picking "watch worthy" companies.

Ambient: Ambient started out in smart grid communications but has moved into the fast-growing area of grid applications. In December 2010, it, announced the latest release of AmbientNMS, an open and intelligent IP communications platform for smart grid applications. Wall Street Equity Research says Ambient sales have been strong recently, noting that their products have boosted third quarter profits to nearly $2 million versus a net loss the year before.

Beacon Power: This fall the flywheel maker signed a $2.8 million contract with ARPA-E to develop a highly advanced long-duration flywheel for renewable energy integration. That's on the heels of an August award of a $43 million DOE loan guarantee that is helping finance the company's 20 MW flywheel plant in Stephentown, N.Y. Even so, the company dodged a bullet earlier this month when NASDAQ ruled against de-listing Beacon. The company's stock (BCON) has been trading below the $1 threshold since October, 2008. Beacon now has until March to comply with NASDAQ rules.

Consert: In July this Raleigh, N.C.-based smart grid technology provider got a $17.7 million funding round from GE, Verizon and others to support strategic marketing, sales and enhancements to its smart grid software. The company was also a winner in GE's $200 million ecoimagination Challenge. At first glance, you might think that Consert is just another player in the overcrowded home energy management sector. But its partnerships with GE and Verizon and its ambitions to play in the growing virtual power plant market may help it separate from the pack.

GRIDiant: I wrote about GRIDiant's smart grid optimization when it launched its GRIDmaster suite back in March. In November, the Raleigh, N.C.  company released another part of that suite, GRIDresponse enterprise grid optimization application, which maximizes the effectiveness of demand response programs while minimizing their impact on customers.

Powerit Solutions: Our readers weren't the only ones to see promise in this Seattle-based provider of energy management systems. This fall it ranked No. 71 on Deloitte's 2010 Technology Fast 500. The company attributes its 1812% revenue growth during the period 2005-2009 to its ability to cut customers' energy bills. The Seattle-based company, which uses technology originally developed in Sweden, lets industrial companies “pre-program” their responses to demand response requests from utilities, so power gets cut back in an intelligent, staged manner that minimizes repercussions while still qualifying for demand response payments.

REGEN Energy: We haven't heard a lot about this Toronto-based company this year, although there are reports it's been talking to California utilities about using swarm logic to intelligently manage EV charging. Based on past briefings by the company, I believe this may be clever technology that is still searching for the right problem to solve.

SmartSynch: No shortage of news about this Jackson, Mississippi smart grid infrastructure company, from partnerships with Sprint and Verizon, SmartSynch’s successful pilots with Duke Energy and formation of the GridRouter EcoSystem to push smart grid interoperability.

Tropos Networks: A quick scan of headlines will tell you this company has been a player this year. Just in the last couple of weeks alone we've seen utilities choosing Tropos' wireless mesh network and Elster announcing it will resell Tropos' networking products.

Viridity Energy: This Philadelphia company was involved in one of the year's more novel energy stories. Its energy management software is part of a smart grid pilot to store electricity generated by subway braking.The company was also selected to build and operate the power trading platform for the Tres Amigas Superstation and to collaborate with EDSA on a groundbreaking San Diego microgrid project.

VYCON: This flywheel technology company started the year with a $13.7 million round of funding to accelerate manufacturing of its energy storage systems. In August the Yorba Linda, CA company was named to the Inc. 500 list of the most entrepreneurial and fastest growing private companies in the U.S.

So now let's move on to 2011. Use the Talk Back comment form below to enter your nominations, or send an email to nominations@smartgridnews.com.

Ambient Corporation applications are
available on America’s largest and most
reliable 3G network: Verizon Wireless.

Ambient Announces Market Availability of Newest Version of Network Management System, AmbientNMS--- Updated Management System to Enable and Support the Continued Growth of Market Leading X-3100 Smart Grid Communications Node

Updated Management System to Enable and Support the Continued Growth of Market Leading X-3100 Smart Grid Communications Node

Boston, Mass., December 9, 2010 – Ambient Corporation (OTCBB: ABTG), a leader in smart grid communications infrastructure, today announced the availability of the latest release of its industry-leading network management system, AmbientNMS®. As the cornerstone of Ambient’s smart grid infrastructure, AmbientNMS provides a powerful, open and intelligent IP communications platform for the deployment of smart grid applications. AmbientNMS can be scaled to accommodate the increasing number of Ambient X-3100 nodes and related endpoints.

The upgraded capabilities in AmbientNMS include customized lists and maps, data traffic prediction, control modules, and new aggregation tools. These upgrades are part of Ambient’s continual process to enhance Ambient’s smart grid communications platform.

“With the total orders for our X-3100 smart grid communications nodes now nearly 83,000 units, the total number of end points supported in aggregate by these nodes is expected to nearly triple the over 200,000 endpoints served today.  This new release of the NMS system is designed to support beyond this level of scaling while adding new features and capabilities,” stated John J. Joyce, President and CEO of Ambient Corporation.

Ambient’s smart grid architecture is designed to promote more reliable, affordable and environmentally friendly energy delivery operations.  Its flexibility and functionality allows for efficient two-way communication, collection, analysis and management of energy data from multiple sources and systems not available today from other vendors.

“For more than 10 years, we have been delivering an open and secure communications platform. We have already received significant orders for our proven, field deployed technology, while providing or supporting an increasing number of smart grid applications and we expect that trend to continue,” stated Ram Rao, SVP and CTO of Ambient Corporation. “An intelligent and robust network management system that scales is necessary for this expected increase in applications, and the new AmbientNMS is built to not only support existing applications, but others that may come along.”

Smart Spending on a Smart Grid

Smart Spending on a Smart Grid
Nov 1, 2010 12:00 PM

By Cathy Swirbul, Contributing Writer

Transmission & Distribution World profiles the utilities receiving the top smart grid investment grants. Their smart grid projects are the foundation on which other projects nationwide will be built.

In October 2009, the U.S. federal government awarded $3.4 billion in investment grants for 100 smart grid projects through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Approximately 30 investor-owned utilities and an equal number of municipals were selected as recipients of the grants, along with a few cooperative utility projects involving dozens of individual co-ops in different states. Industry will match the federal grants for a total investment of more than $8 billion, according to the Department of Energy (DOE).

Specifically, the grant program provides $1 billion for the installation of smart meters and related customer programs that will enable communication between utilities and customers. Approximately $2 billion is allotted for the infrastructure required to support networks of smart grids. Another $400 million will be used to modernize transmission lines, both to limit the losses during transmission and to allow greater long-distance transportation of power. An additional $25 million is earmarked for the development of smart device manufacturing capabilities.

All of the projects receiving the investment grants must be executed by April 19, 2013. The DOE will distribute the grant funds as project work progresses over that time period. As a stipulation of the funding, the companies submit detailed monthly progress reports that include schedule and cost updates to ensure that the work is being completed on schedule and within budget. On a quarterly basis, the companies must report on the number of jobs created. Semi-annually, they must identify the benefits realized from the projects. After April 2013, the companies must report on the project benefits up to two years after completion.

All of the states, with the exception of Alaska, have smart grid projects that received investment grants. The majority of the awardees were utility companies, though hundreds of technology solutions companies will benefit from increased business with utility clients because of the grant funds.

Smart Grid Benefits

In announcing the smart grid investment grants, Energy Secretary Steven Chu explained in a press release how the United States will benefit from smart grid.

“These investments will be used to develop a smart, strong and secure electrical grid that will help integrate renewable resources onto the grid, deliver power more reliably and effectively with less environmental impact, and create new jobs across the country,” said Chu. “By investing in updating the grid now, we will lower utility bills for American families and businesses, lessen our dependence on oil and help advance a clean energy future for the nation.”

more: http://tdworld.com/iep/smart-grid-spending-20101101/

Smart grid efficiency could make 2010's energy usage 'disappear'

Smart grid efficiency could make 2010's energy usage 'disappear'

Whenever smart grid experts talk about transforming the nation’s aging power grid, the focus is usually on the efficiency that will result. And for good reason — the potential gains are so huge, they might just exceed our current electrical usage.

At this week’s Advanced Energy 2010 Conference in New York City, GE’s Bob Gilligan laid out a scenario in which the total U.S. energy consumption and emissions saved between 2010 and 2030 could exceed the entire electrical consumption and electrical CO2 output for all of 2010. “The net result would be like 2010 never happened,” he explained.

Gilligan, vice president of digital energy for GE Energy Services, said that in addition to the energy and pollution savings, that scenario would create 140,000 sustainable new jobs and an electrical landscape that includes 3.3 billion fewer customer outage minutes. These improvements could result in savings of $65.7 billion from reduced power interruptions by 2030.

Granted, all this good news comes with an ever-growing backdrop of bad news. Gilligan noted that as cities continue to grow around the world, they will house more than 60 percent of the world’s population and consume a vast majority of its power by 2030 — something that an electricity infrastructure designed a century ago can’t supply. For example, approximately half of the transformer equipment powering the U.S. grid is currently at or approaching the end of its design life, he said.

This is happening as global electricity demand is forecasted to increase 75 percent by 2030 — with more than 40 percent of our emissions already coming from electricity generation. At the same time, costs are also rising — in the U.S., rates increased an average of 42 percent between 2000 and 2007.

“The good news is that we are not talking gloom and doom,” he said, underscoring that the technology is ready now and deployable. The key to an energy revolution, he says is to take “measured, affordable evolutionary steps.”

If that evolution begins now, Gilligan estimates that the power saved will be equal to the output of 64 average coal plants (500 megawatts each) while the CO2 impact will be the equivalent of taking over 25 million cars off the road. Another upside: “These are conservative adoption estimates,” he said, “so imagine the benefits if we move more quickly.”

Why the Smart Grid Will Fuel the Next Big Business Boom

Why the Smart Grid Will Fuel the Next Big Business Boom
http://us.mobile.reuters.com/article/idU...

Tue Oct 12, 2010 1:00am EDT

There's no question that in order to meet our clean energy goals across the globe, we need a smarter grid. Integrating high percentages of renewable power will require a smarter grid to help manage the challenges presented by the inherent intermittency of wind and solar. 

To greatly reduce our oil imports and carbon emissions, we need greener transportation and electric vehicles, which require grid intelligence to ensure increased demand from vehicle re-charging does not cripple our electric infrastructure.

China's investment in smart grid to reach RMB 2 Trillion in 2011-2015

Saturday, October 09, 2010 5:10 AM

BEIJING, Oct. 9, 2010 (Xinhua News Agency) -- China is expected to invest 300 billion yuan in smart grid each year in the following 10 years. On the entering of the overall construction phase in 2011-2015, total investment in smart grid will approximate to 2 trillion yuan, said insider with the State Grid Corp.
At present, China's smart grid industry exists only on paper. While government authorities are mulling over development plan for smart grid, some local governments have taken the lead in publishing plans for smart grid development.
According to preliminary plan of Chinese government, the development of smart grid will drive the development of a wide range of industry, including new material, electronic and electric device and cell manufacture, new energy power generation, steel manufacture, telecom equipment, smart household appliances, electricvehicle and so on.
Among those, new energy power generation will benefit most from the promotion of smart grid, noted Wang Yeping, deputy chairman of the China Electricity Regulatory Commission.
The Strategic Plan for New Energy Industry to be issued soon will enormously raise the targeted installed capacity of wind power and solar power to 100 million kilowatts and 20 million kilowatts by 2020, respectively.
Another big beneficiary will be electric vehicle. Boosted by smart grid, registered electric vehicle will reach 30 million units in China by 2020, said Zhu Changlin, general manager with Beijing Electric Power Corp.
Xiao Liye, official with China Electric Power Research Institute, believes that the development and construction of smart grid in China will generate 40 trillion yuan of output value in 30 years, and will be a strategic opportunity for China to complete economic restructuring. (Edited by Li Xiaohui, lixh@xinhua.org)

View: Benefits of US-China Private Sector Cooperation in the Power Sector

View Smart Grid pp 26-31
Duke Energy and China !!!

China's investment in smart grid to reach RMB 2 Trillion in 2011-2015

Forbes: Cisco Could Cruise To $27 On Smart Grid Growth !!!

Oct. 7 2010 - 11:00 am

Click here: The modernization of Duke Energy’s power grid is under way in Ohio

Ambient X-3100 Smart Grid Communication Nodes used by Duke Energy- "the “brains” of the smart grid system."!!!
http://www.ambientcorp.com/press_releases/pr_2010_0929_nodes_ohio.html

SMART Grid Communications Nodes- are the “brains” of the smart grid system

How does it(smart grid) work?

It starts by installing communication nodes alongside our transformers. These
devices may not look high-tech, but they are the “brains” of the smart grid system.
They create a virtual energy network – collecting data from the smart meters and
other digital equipment on the power lines, and sending it over a wireless network
back to Duke Energy and then back to the customer. We will install about 10,000
communication nodes in Ohio in 2010.

Gridweek Oct. 18-21, 2010

Gridweek Oct. 18-21, 2010

Ambient Expands Smart Grid Deployments in Ohio Ramps Capacity to Meet Increasing Demand

Ambient Expands Smart Grid Deployments in Ohio
Ramps Capacity to Meet Increasing Demand

BOSTON, Sept. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Ambient Corporation (OTC Bulletin Board:ABTG.ob - News) today announced that it has ramped up manufacturing capacity to meet the increasing demand for its products. Ambient is positioned to meet the recent increase in purchase orders, currently totaling over 44,000, for the X-3100 smart grid nodes. The company continues to further increase capacity for additional anticipated orders.

In Ohio, Ambient's field deployed nodes are today collecting and transmitting data to/from more than 100,000 electric and 60,000 gas meters. Earlier this month, DOE Secretary Steven Chu took note of Ohio's smart meter progress and explained that smart grid deployments create a more reliable, modern electrical grid and eventually enable consumers to monitor and control their energy use. Ambient's node is a key component in smart grid deployments that are intended to bring these benefits to over 750,000 consumers.

To date, Ambient has shipped approximately 25,000 IP-based smart grid communications nodes (from previously received orders), with over 17,000 of these nodes deployed in multiple locations in the United States.

"The ongoing deployments, successful scaling and continuous management of the deployments using Ambient's network management software, represent a strong endorsement of the Ambient Smart Grid platform," stated Ram Rao, Ambient's CTO. "The deployments demonstrate our belief and commitment in the network architecture for managing the grid system, allowing for a more efficient delivery of electricity and gas to utility customers."

Having experienced more than four consecutive quarters of growth, the Company is continuing to add essential resources to enhance its smart grid communications portfolio of products and expand its customer base.

Watch live streaming video from greentechmedia at livestream.com

Ambient`s Partners in Connecting Smart Grid !!!

Smart Grid Communications Node Shipments to Total 276 Million through 2016 ... $20.3B in 7 year forecast

"A new report from Pike Research forecasts that 276 million smart grid communications nodes will be shipped worldwide during the period from 2010 to 2016, with annual shipments increasing dramatically from 15 million in 2009 to 55 million by 2016.  The cleantech market intelligence firm expects that this will represent a total industry investment of $20.3 billion during the seven-year forecast period, with annual revenues increasing from $1.8 billion in 2009 to $3.1 billion by 2016, despite rapidly falling average selling prices (ASPs) per node."

Cisco And Itron Partner For Smart-Grid Networking

08 September, 2010, by ITProPortal Staff

Cisco has teamed up with Itron to develop a sophisticated InternetProtocol based communications platform for smart-grids

Ambient, Itron Collaboration will Provide Automatic Near-Real Time Legacy Meter Reads and Outage Detection

Duke Energy, Echelon ink deal .... " value of the contract could exceed $150 million"

Monday, August 10, 2009

Duke Energy, Echelon ink deal

Charlotte Business Journal

Echelon Corp. has signed a long-term services agreement with Duke Energy Corp.

California-based Echelon (NASDAQ:ELON) markets technology that provides utilities with information about the status and operations of their electrical grids.

The initial order totals $15.8 million, with deliveries expected to start at the end of the quarter. Echelon says the value of the contract could exceed $150 million.

Charlotte-based Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) provides electricity to 4 million customers in the Carolinas, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky.

“An essential component of Duke Energy’s smart-grid design is a scalable, open, interoperable network that supports not just the initial functions we are deploying today, but allows for additional devices and sensors to be attached to the network in the future,” says Todd Arnold, Duke Energy’s senior vice president for smart-grid and customer systems. “Echelon’s metering infrastructure is a key enabler of that vision with a smart grid approach that includes smart meters, smart concentrators working in conjunction with the meters, and network operating system software.”

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) has selected California-based Echelon Corporation and Massachusetts-based Ambient Corporation to further develop its grid-based communications architecture

Duke Energy Takes Steps to Further Advance Its Smart Grid Communications Architecture

 

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) has selected California-based Echelon Corporation and Massachusetts-based Ambient Corporation to further develop its grid-based communications architecture that connects various digital devices such as smart meters, power line sensors and automated power switching equipment.  

(Logo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040414/DUKEENERGYLOGO )

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20040414/DUKEENERGYLOGO )

"Duke Energy is building a secure smart grid network that will serve our customers today and for years to come," said Duke Energy Chief Customer Officer Gianna Manes. "For customers to fully experience the benefits of a smarter power delivery system, we have to look beyond today's technology and build a communications architecture that supports open, interoperable standards and enables the connection of a variety of digital devices that can evolve with future needs and changes."

Duke Energy currently uses products developed by both Ambient and Echelon as part of its smart grid deployment efforts inOhio, and in pilot projects in North Carolina and South Carolina.

"We have worked successfully with Ambient and Echelon in the past, and we are confident in their ability to deliver quality products," Manes said. "Selecting both companies supports our desire to work with multiple vendors as we deploy digital technology throughout the five states we serve."

"Ambient looks forward to continuing our five-year relationship with Duke Energy, having been the key contributor to the communications component in Duke's smart grid architecture," said John J. Joyce, president and CEO of Ambient Corporation. "We believe Duke Energy's strategy, based on open protocols and technologies, will deliver benefits for all stakeholders."

"Echelon is committed to helping Duke Energy deliver an exceptional customer experience with a reliable, efficient and clean supply of electricity," said Ron Sege, Echelon's CEO and president. "At a time when peak loads are at their highest and outages are costing Americans $150 billion a year, utilities require solutions to help them monitor, detect and control the conditions that ensure a secure and dependable grid. Our open, application-ready, platform will enable Duke and its partners to build and deploy intelligent distributed control solutions." 

A key component of Duke Energy's smart grid communications architecture is the communications node. The nodes are installed on the grid alongside electric power transformers located overhead and at ground level.  Once in place, the devices gather data from numerous digital devices and send it over a telecommunications network to Duke Energy, where the information is collected and used for various business purposes such as billing and power grid management.

Energy usage information is also made available to customers so they can see their specific energy usage data, which they can then use to make more informed decisions about how and when to use energy.

Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is a Fortune 500 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available on the Internet at: www.duke-energy.com.  To learn more and contribute to the discussion about the energy issues of today and the possibilities of tomorrow see www.sheddingalight.org.

Cisco and Itron Join Forces to Deliver Next-Generation Smart Grid Platform

Sept. 1, 2010, 8:01 a.m. EDT

Cisco's Standards-Based IP Architecture to Power Itron's Market-Leading Smart Meter System; Solution Will Create a Consolidated Network for Utilities, Make Possible More Reliable Delivery of Energy to Homes and Businesses

New Jersey Towns throughout Monmouth and Ocean counties Power outage affects more than 70,000 JCP&L customers

DUKE ENERGY: Envision SMART GRID video !!!

Smart Power: Climate Change, the Smart Grid, and the Future of Electric UtilitiesSmart Power: Climate Change, the Smart Grid, and the Future of Electric Utilities

Smart Grid stock pick: Ambient Corporation

Ambient Corporation Announces  Second Quarter Financial Results

Sets Record for First Half Revenue
Ambient designs, develops and markets Ambient Smart Grid® communications technologies and equipment. Utilizing Internet protocol-based open standards technologies along with in-depth industry experience, Ambient provides utilities with solutions for creating smart grid communication platforms and technologies. Headquartered in Newton, MA, Ambient is a publicly traded company (OTCBB: ABTG)

UPDATE: GE Energy Eyes Partners, Buys For Smart Grid Business

AUGUST 23, 2010, 12:36 P.M. ET

PARIS (Dow Jones)--General Electric Co.'s (GE) energy division is studying potential partnerships to give it a greater range in the smart grid business and is also on the lookout for acquisition targets in that fast-growing field, a company executive said Monday.

"From our point of view, if it's something we don't have completely, we can either develop it or we can partner with somebody," John D. McDonald, director of technical strategy and policy development at GE's Digital Energy division told ...

Largest smart grid in U.S. gets funding

By Annette Cary /  Tri-City Herald, Kennewick, Wash.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010 

Local Jobs to Come for "Smart Grid" Technology

Senator Maria Cantwell came to Richland to announce plans for 500 new jobs in Washington, 40 which would be in the Tri-Cities.

Baltimore Gas and Electric Company to Proceed with Smart Grid Implementation

Aug. 16, 2010, 9:01 a.m. EDT


"BGE says the lifetime benefits of the program will equal $2.5 billion dollars for its customers. The total cost of implementing the advanced metering infrastructure (AMI)--aka smart grid--is expected to be $1 billion."

"A report from Pike Research forecasts that 276 million smart grid communications nodes will be shipped worldwide during the period from 2010 to 2016".

Smart meters to be largest wireless comms app, says analyst

Richard Wilson

Monday 26 July 2010 10:51

A report from Pike Research forecasts that 276 million smart grid communications nodes will be shipped worldwide during the period from 2010 to 2016.

The cleantech market intelligence firm expects that this will represent a total industry investment of $20.3bn during the seven-year forecast period.

This means that annual revenues increase from $1.8bn in 2009 to $3.1bn by 2016, despite rapidly falling average selling prices (ASPs) per node.

“The greatest myth of the smart grid is that there will be one communications technology to rule them all,” said senior analyst Bob Gohn.

“The reality is that smart grid networks will be as diverse as the internet, including fixed and wireless, public and private, standard and proprietary technologies.” 

Gohn predicted that advanced metering infrastructure nodes for smart meters will be the largest communications equipment category over the next several years.

Pike Research’s report, “Smart Grid Networking and Communications”,examines the market for communication technologies in all areas of smart grid operations, from the utility substation to the home area network.

Smart Grid Technology Helps New York City

July 17, 2010

By: Zachary Shahan

An old Cleantechnica writer (actually, our previous editor), Ariel Schwartz, wrote a great article this week on how a nascent smart grid helped to prevent brownouts and blackouts in New York during a record-breaking heat wave earlier this month.

Although our nation’s electricity grid has a ways to go before we can really call it a smart grid, it is great to see that initial updates and changes are already making a difference.

Here’s the part of the article about how New York City’s utility, Con Edison, used smart grid technology to help keep the grid up:

It wasn’t easy for New York City’s utility Con Edison to prevent brownouts and blackouts as the heat wave mounted. The utility went so far as to call individual customers, pleading with them to turn off nonessential appliances.

But Con Ed had a backup weapon in its fight against blackouts: an initiative that lets the utility reprogram thermostats in 20,000 homes and businesses outfitted with central air-conditioning systems. When the heat wave began, Con Ed sent radio signals to the thermostats, triggering them to cycle on and off every half hour. The initiative saved 25 megawatts of energy during peak demand last week--enough to at least partially prevent the grid from collapsing.

Smart grid company Trilliant raises $106M

Thursday, July 15, 2010, 6:49am PDT

Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal

Southern California Edison Installs Millionth Itron OpenWay® Smart Meter

Stimulus Funds Array of Smart Grid Technologies

"It's not hard to see why I love the smart grid.

It's the future unfolding right before our eyes and it's a pure economic win. So it doesn't get as tangled in the nonsense associated with clean energy sources.

It helps that the CEO of GE (NYSE: GE) has called in the biggest investment of the next 50 years. And that Cisco says it'll be “100 to 1,000 times bigger than the Internet.”

A Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) analyst recently told me they expect 80-140 million meters to be installed in the next 10 years. And they expect total smart grid investment of $215 billion in the next four to five years.

Needless to say, this is going to be huge."