By Kent Hoover, ACBJ Wire Service
Friday, April 24, 2009
The Obama administration announced plans to distribute nearly $4 billion in grants to upgrade the nation’s electrical grid.
The grants were funded by the economic stimulus bill. Nearly $3.4 billion will go to utilities, manufacturers and other companies that want to install smart grid technology. The Department of Energy grants will range from $500,000 to $20 million, and recipients must provide at least 50 percent of the cost of the projects. The grants will be awarded on a competitive basis.
The DOE also will provide grants ranging from $100,000 to $5 million for the deployment of grid monitoring devices.
In addition, $615 million will be spent on demonstration projects in three areas: regional projects to quantify smart grid costs and benefits, utility-scale energy storage and real-time grid monitoring.
The Department of Energy and the Department of Commerce also will host a meeting in May to begin development of industry-wide smart grid standards.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Utilities targeting smart grid upgrades !!!
Watch THIS VIDEO: Smart Grid players: AMBIENT; EMBER; ENERNOC
MHT's Efrain Viscarolasaga: Preparing the smart grid for more power !
Friday, April 3, 2009
MHT's Efrain Viscarolasaga: Preparing the smart grid for more power !
Friday, April 3, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Obama: $11 BILLION DOLLARS to Modernized U.S. ELECTRICITY GRID !!!!!!
Read full speech On Earth Day, Obama stresses clean energy
Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor
April 22, 2009 02:05 PM
=====
"It's estimated that if we fully pursue our potential for wind energy on land and offshore, wind can generate as much as 20 percent of our electricity by 2030 and create a quarter-million jobs in the process -- 250,000 jobs in the process, jobs that pay well and provide good benefits. It's a win-win: It's good for the environment; it's great for the economy.
Even as we pursue renewable energy from the wind and the sun and other sources, we also need a smarter, stronger electricity grid -- some of you have been hearing about this, this smart grid -- a grid that can carry energy from one end of this country to the other. So when you guys are building these amazing towers and the turbines are going up and they're producing energy, we've got to make sure that energy produced in Iowa can get to Chicago; energy produced in North Dakota can get
to Milwaukee. That's why we're making an $11 BILLION investment through the recovery plan to modernize the way we distribute electricity."
...
Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor
April 22, 2009 02:05 PM
=====
"It's estimated that if we fully pursue our potential for wind energy on land and offshore, wind can generate as much as 20 percent of our electricity by 2030 and create a quarter-million jobs in the process -- 250,000 jobs in the process, jobs that pay well and provide good benefits. It's a win-win: It's good for the environment; it's great for the economy.
Even as we pursue renewable energy from the wind and the sun and other sources, we also need a smarter, stronger electricity grid -- some of you have been hearing about this, this smart grid -- a grid that can carry energy from one end of this country to the other. So when you guys are building these amazing towers and the turbines are going up and they're producing energy, we've got to make sure that energy produced in Iowa can get to Chicago; energy produced in North Dakota can get
to Milwaukee. That's why we're making an $11 BILLION investment through the recovery plan to modernize the way we distribute electricity."
...
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. and Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. submit for Approval of and Supplementary Funding for Smart Grid
4/17/2009In the Matter of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 - Utility Filings for New York Economic Stimulus
===
Remember this last year?
Friday, April 13, 2007
Ambient & Consolidated Edison Launch New R & D Efforts Underground in Manhattan- to further evaluate on a larger scale Ambient's BPL System !!!
NEW YORK, BUSINESS WIRE -- Ambient Corporation (OTCBB: ABTG), a leader in Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) solutions, announced today that it will install its second generation BPL equipment on the underground electric system of Consolidated Edison Company of New York Inc. (NYSE: ED).
Successful completion of the research and development demonstration would allow Con Edison to further evaluate on a larger scale Ambient's BPL System for monitoring the underground distribution system.
Ambient's BPL platform is designed to support many, if not all, of the sensoring, monitoring and control applications that Con Edison may deploy to enhance its distribution system. Some of the applications that can be supported by the Ambient BPL system include aggregation of meter reading, peak load reductions and demand side management, energy flow measurements, stray voltage detection, and partial discharge detection.
The demonstration of Ambient's partial discharge detection application, in particular, may be a key component in proactively detecting impending failures in cables or other distribution system components.
Ram Rao, Ambient's Chief Technology Officer stated, "We are pleased to be working with our long-time partner Con Edison on this R & D project. Con Edison has stated their commitment to enhance their grid, and we anticipate that the Ambient BPL system will be a key part of the solution that Con Edison is developing to achieve their planned improvements. The Ambient BPL platform has been developed to enable exactly these types of applications and solutions."
Many of the utilities in the United States that are in the process of developing plans for the next generation distribution systems have identified communications capabilities as a key requirement. Ambient's BPL system is an ideal solution to meet this requirement as it operates over the same infrastructure that the utilities own, operate, and maintain to deliver electricity.
===
Remember this last year?
Friday, April 13, 2007
Ambient & Consolidated Edison Launch New R & D Efforts Underground in Manhattan- to further evaluate on a larger scale Ambient's BPL System !!!
NEW YORK, BUSINESS WIRE -- Ambient Corporation (OTCBB: ABTG), a leader in Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) solutions, announced today that it will install its second generation BPL equipment on the underground electric system of Consolidated Edison Company of New York Inc. (NYSE: ED).
Successful completion of the research and development demonstration would allow Con Edison to further evaluate on a larger scale Ambient's BPL System for monitoring the underground distribution system.
Ambient's BPL platform is designed to support many, if not all, of the sensoring, monitoring and control applications that Con Edison may deploy to enhance its distribution system. Some of the applications that can be supported by the Ambient BPL system include aggregation of meter reading, peak load reductions and demand side management, energy flow measurements, stray voltage detection, and partial discharge detection.
The demonstration of Ambient's partial discharge detection application, in particular, may be a key component in proactively detecting impending failures in cables or other distribution system components.
Ram Rao, Ambient's Chief Technology Officer stated, "We are pleased to be working with our long-time partner Con Edison on this R & D project. Con Edison has stated their commitment to enhance their grid, and we anticipate that the Ambient BPL system will be a key part of the solution that Con Edison is developing to achieve their planned improvements. The Ambient BPL platform has been developed to enable exactly these types of applications and solutions."
Many of the utilities in the United States that are in the process of developing plans for the next generation distribution systems have identified communications capabilities as a key requirement. Ambient's BPL system is an ideal solution to meet this requirement as it operates over the same infrastructure that the utilities own, operate, and maintain to deliver electricity.
The Department of Energy To Issue New Loan Guarantee, Grant Solicitations Soon
The Department of Energy To Issue New Loan Guarantee, Grant Solicitations Soon
04/15/2009
By Ian Talley
Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- The Department of Energy is close to issuing new solicitations for renewable energy and transmission project loan guarantees and grants, possibly as soon as Thursday, according to people close to the matter.
In the midst of economic doldrums, renewable and transmission companies are eagerly awaiting a new funding opportunity under the stimulus bill signed into law earlier this year. The federal government approved around $60 billion in loan guarantee authority and more than $30 billion in energy grants.
Announcements on the solicitations could come as soon as Thursday, when Vice President Joe Biden is expected to discuss progress under the recovery act at an ABB (ABB) factory in Missouri that produces transformers for a wind farm.
"Very soon we're going to issue a new set of solicitations under the new funding authority, specifically around more mature renewable technologies and energy infrastructure, particularly transmission infrastructure projects," said Matthew Rogers, a senior advisor to Energy Secretary Steven Chu, in an interview.
An industry official familiar with the DOE's funding authority said Biden was expected to announce grant funding for "smart grid" projects designed to transform the power transmission system into an artificially intelligent system that could more efficiently manage electricity use.
Rogers said the DOE was working with the White House's Office of Management and Budget to finalize the stimulus funding portfolio and the agency planned to make the remainder of grant funding available through the next few weeks.
"The money is beginning to flow, [and] the secretary has reviewed and approved substantially all of the plans for the rest of the funds," he said.
Under the recovery funding, the DOE was given around $33 billion in grant and contract authority. Around $21 billion is currently available for applications.
Rogers also said several projects solicited under loan guarantee authorities granted under the previous Administration would now be funded by the recovery bill authority.
That could prove to be a windfall for the handful of companies that are eligible, said Salo Zelermyer, a former DOE counsel and now an associate at Bracewell & Giuliani. Under the recovery act loan guarantee provisions, the government will also pay for costly credit fees that have proved prohibitive to some firms wanting to apply.
Rogers declined to say exactly specific projects that are eligible for the new funding, but a number of companies are in the final stages of negotiating their loan guarantee deals, including BlueFire Ethanol Fuels (BFRE), BrightSource Energy and Beacon Power (BCON), according to several people close to the matter.
California solar company Solyndra Inc., was the first to benefit under the DOE's renewable program, last month being awarded a $535 million loan guarantee to fund a new manufacturing plant. Although the application was made and given preliminary approval under the George W. Bush administration - and funds appropriated for the program by Congress - the firm was also eligible under the recovery legislation.
Funds appropriated under the previous administration but not used for the projects that are now eligible for recovery support will likely be used for another solicitation, Rogers said.
Rogers, a former senior partner with the consulting firm McKinsey & Co., said the DOE was currently able to process one loan guarantee project a month, but was aiming to work up to processing two a week.
"We are getting the machine limbered up...[and] it may take a few months to get to that position, but that's the direction we're headed," he said.
Loan guarantees for new nuclear power plants and coal-fired power stations designed to cut carbon dioxide emissions approved under the Bush administration haven't shared the same urgency as renewable energy and transmission projects under the Obama administration. Secretary Chu has previously said nuclear and coal loan guarantees wouldn't be in the first tranche of projects to be announced.
04/15/2009
By Ian Talley
Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- The Department of Energy is close to issuing new solicitations for renewable energy and transmission project loan guarantees and grants, possibly as soon as Thursday, according to people close to the matter.
In the midst of economic doldrums, renewable and transmission companies are eagerly awaiting a new funding opportunity under the stimulus bill signed into law earlier this year. The federal government approved around $60 billion in loan guarantee authority and more than $30 billion in energy grants.
Announcements on the solicitations could come as soon as Thursday, when Vice President Joe Biden is expected to discuss progress under the recovery act at an ABB (ABB) factory in Missouri that produces transformers for a wind farm.
"Very soon we're going to issue a new set of solicitations under the new funding authority, specifically around more mature renewable technologies and energy infrastructure, particularly transmission infrastructure projects," said Matthew Rogers, a senior advisor to Energy Secretary Steven Chu, in an interview.
An industry official familiar with the DOE's funding authority said Biden was expected to announce grant funding for "smart grid" projects designed to transform the power transmission system into an artificially intelligent system that could more efficiently manage electricity use.
Rogers said the DOE was working with the White House's Office of Management and Budget to finalize the stimulus funding portfolio and the agency planned to make the remainder of grant funding available through the next few weeks.
"The money is beginning to flow, [and] the secretary has reviewed and approved substantially all of the plans for the rest of the funds," he said.
Under the recovery funding, the DOE was given around $33 billion in grant and contract authority. Around $21 billion is currently available for applications.
Rogers also said several projects solicited under loan guarantee authorities granted under the previous Administration would now be funded by the recovery bill authority.
That could prove to be a windfall for the handful of companies that are eligible, said Salo Zelermyer, a former DOE counsel and now an associate at Bracewell & Giuliani. Under the recovery act loan guarantee provisions, the government will also pay for costly credit fees that have proved prohibitive to some firms wanting to apply.
Rogers declined to say exactly specific projects that are eligible for the new funding, but a number of companies are in the final stages of negotiating their loan guarantee deals, including BlueFire Ethanol Fuels (BFRE), BrightSource Energy and Beacon Power (BCON), according to several people close to the matter.
California solar company Solyndra Inc., was the first to benefit under the DOE's renewable program, last month being awarded a $535 million loan guarantee to fund a new manufacturing plant. Although the application was made and given preliminary approval under the George W. Bush administration - and funds appropriated for the program by Congress - the firm was also eligible under the recovery legislation.
Funds appropriated under the previous administration but not used for the projects that are now eligible for recovery support will likely be used for another solicitation, Rogers said.
Rogers, a former senior partner with the consulting firm McKinsey & Co., said the DOE was currently able to process one loan guarantee project a month, but was aiming to work up to processing two a week.
"We are getting the machine limbered up...[and] it may take a few months to get to that position, but that's the direction we're headed," he said.
Loan guarantees for new nuclear power plants and coal-fired power stations designed to cut carbon dioxide emissions approved under the Bush administration haven't shared the same urgency as renewable energy and transmission projects under the Obama administration. Secretary Chu has previously said nuclear and coal loan guarantees wouldn't be in the first tranche of projects to be announced.
Con Edison contracts Zenergy for smart grid device
Con Edison contracts Zenergy for smart grid device
Associated Press, 04.20.09, 02:57 PM EDT
Zenergy Power Inc. on Monday said it has been hired by Consolidated Edison Inc. to build and test a "Smart Grid" device for improving the stability of New York City's electrical system.
Con Edison ( ED - news - people ), a subsidiary of Consolidated Edison, authorized Zenergy Power to design, build and test a single-phase Fault Current Limiter (FCL), which instantly detects and absorbs spikes in power that, left unmanaged, could damage electrical equipment or trigger power outages.
The device connects to the grid it protects, allowing normal current to pass through freely but, when it senses a fault current, instantly counters the electrical flow.
"This reaction, created in part by the superconductor in the device, chokes off a potentially damaging electrical spike," Zenergy explained in a statement. "Once the fault current subsides, the FCL again allows standard levels of current to flow, protecting the electrical system automatically without human intervention."
Pat Duggan, a Con Edison project manager and specialist in fault current limiters said this development is crucial as the load grows, with electricity becoming a preferred source for many products such as plug-in hybrids.
Under a mandate to lead modernization of the electric grid, the Department of Energy partially funded Zenergy's development of an FCL, the company said.
Zenergy said it expects to deliver the prototype by the end of August. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Associated Press, 04.20.09, 02:57 PM EDT
Zenergy Power Inc. on Monday said it has been hired by Consolidated Edison Inc. to build and test a "Smart Grid" device for improving the stability of New York City's electrical system.
Con Edison ( ED - news - people ), a subsidiary of Consolidated Edison, authorized Zenergy Power to design, build and test a single-phase Fault Current Limiter (FCL), which instantly detects and absorbs spikes in power that, left unmanaged, could damage electrical equipment or trigger power outages.
The device connects to the grid it protects, allowing normal current to pass through freely but, when it senses a fault current, instantly counters the electrical flow.
"This reaction, created in part by the superconductor in the device, chokes off a potentially damaging electrical spike," Zenergy explained in a statement. "Once the fault current subsides, the FCL again allows standard levels of current to flow, protecting the electrical system automatically without human intervention."
Pat Duggan, a Con Edison project manager and specialist in fault current limiters said this development is crucial as the load grows, with electricity becoming a preferred source for many products such as plug-in hybrids.
Under a mandate to lead modernization of the electric grid, the Department of Energy partially funded Zenergy's development of an FCL, the company said.
Zenergy said it expects to deliver the prototype by the end of August. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Smart Grid Miami: FPL, GE, Cisco, Silver Spring Rolling Out 1M Smart Meters
Smart Grid Miami: FPL, GE, Cisco, Silver Spring Rolling Out 1M Smart Meters
Mon Apr 20, 2009 11:56am
EDTKatie Fehrenbacher - Earth2Tech
The smart grid is being touted as the Swiss army knife of cleantech — adding energy efficiency to the power grid, saving consumers money on energy bills, and creating jobs. That’s the way Florida utility FPL Group sees it, and today FPL, Cisco, GE, Silver Spring Networks and the city of Miami are announcing a large smart meter rollout in the Miami area that they hope will be partly funded with investment from the stimulus package. There’s a big press conference with the details at 10 a.m. (PST), but the Today Show has some of the details already in a couple different video clips.
GE will provide 1 million smart meters, and FPL Group CEO Lewis Hay tells the Today Show that if the “broad based trial” is successful for that initial group, it will be rolled out to the rest of FPL’s 4.5 million customers. The initial rollout, dubbed Energy Smart Miami, will cost $200 million, and extending the smart meter solution beyond Miami will cost another $500 million.
According to the Today Show, the companies hope that half of the investment will be provided by the stimulus package (the Today Show phrased it as half will be provided by the stimulus, but I think it’s not official yet) and half by FPL Group. According to Silver Spring Networks, a startup that will provide the network connectivity, the companies are working to “ensure that the initiative meets President Obama’s criteria as a “shovel-ready” project to qualify for matching funds from . . . the federal stimulus package. Contingent on receiving this federal support, Energy Smart Miami could begin later this year and be completed by the end of 2011.”
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Just last week Vice President Joe Biden outlined a draft plan for how the smart grid funds from the stimulus package would be spent. Those plans went into a 20-day comment period last week before being finalized, and they include $3.4 billion in grants for technology development and another $615 million for demo projects of smart grid storage, monitoring and technology.
The Today Show shows clips of consumers using smart meters to control appliances and managing their energy consumption through an online web site, and it says the average resident in the trial saved 5 percent on their average monthly energy bill. GE’s CEO Jeffrey Immelt said that he thinks energy management will follow the way of consumers managing their finances and banking online: it will take time but will end up being a trusted, efficient consumer tool.
According to Silver Spring there will be initial trials in 1,000 homes in Miami that will use more intensive energy management devices including:
* “in-home energy displays or “eco-panels” to help manage electrical loads and lower power use during peak periods,”
* “smart appliances that can communicate with smart meters to reschedule high-energy functions or switch to a lower-consumption mode during peak demand periods”
* “Programmable and smart-meter-controllable thermostats”
* “Demand management and demand response software that will manage consumer appliances, lighting and other devices using smart meters.”
When we get more details on what companies are providing the tech for some of these more intensive consumer energy management services, we’ll let you know.
Why Miami? The mayor of Miami, Manny Diaz, told the Today Show that Miami is “on the front lines” of global climate, and is one of the most largest urban areas affected by rising sea levels and stronger hurricanes. And, importantly in this down economy, the companies say that the smart meter rollout could provide 1,000 new jobs.
Mon Apr 20, 2009 11:56am
EDTKatie Fehrenbacher - Earth2Tech
The smart grid is being touted as the Swiss army knife of cleantech — adding energy efficiency to the power grid, saving consumers money on energy bills, and creating jobs. That’s the way Florida utility FPL Group sees it, and today FPL, Cisco, GE, Silver Spring Networks and the city of Miami are announcing a large smart meter rollout in the Miami area that they hope will be partly funded with investment from the stimulus package. There’s a big press conference with the details at 10 a.m. (PST), but the Today Show has some of the details already in a couple different video clips.
GE will provide 1 million smart meters, and FPL Group CEO Lewis Hay tells the Today Show that if the “broad based trial” is successful for that initial group, it will be rolled out to the rest of FPL’s 4.5 million customers. The initial rollout, dubbed Energy Smart Miami, will cost $200 million, and extending the smart meter solution beyond Miami will cost another $500 million.
According to the Today Show, the companies hope that half of the investment will be provided by the stimulus package (the Today Show phrased it as half will be provided by the stimulus, but I think it’s not official yet) and half by FPL Group. According to Silver Spring Networks, a startup that will provide the network connectivity, the companies are working to “ensure that the initiative meets President Obama’s criteria as a “shovel-ready” project to qualify for matching funds from . . . the federal stimulus package. Contingent on receiving this federal support, Energy Smart Miami could begin later this year and be completed by the end of 2011.”
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Just last week Vice President Joe Biden outlined a draft plan for how the smart grid funds from the stimulus package would be spent. Those plans went into a 20-day comment period last week before being finalized, and they include $3.4 billion in grants for technology development and another $615 million for demo projects of smart grid storage, monitoring and technology.
The Today Show shows clips of consumers using smart meters to control appliances and managing their energy consumption through an online web site, and it says the average resident in the trial saved 5 percent on their average monthly energy bill. GE’s CEO Jeffrey Immelt said that he thinks energy management will follow the way of consumers managing their finances and banking online: it will take time but will end up being a trusted, efficient consumer tool.
According to Silver Spring there will be initial trials in 1,000 homes in Miami that will use more intensive energy management devices including:
* “in-home energy displays or “eco-panels” to help manage electrical loads and lower power use during peak periods,”
* “smart appliances that can communicate with smart meters to reschedule high-energy functions or switch to a lower-consumption mode during peak demand periods”
* “Programmable and smart-meter-controllable thermostats”
* “Demand management and demand response software that will manage consumer appliances, lighting and other devices using smart meters.”
When we get more details on what companies are providing the tech for some of these more intensive consumer energy management services, we’ll let you know.
Why Miami? The mayor of Miami, Manny Diaz, told the Today Show that Miami is “on the front lines” of global climate, and is one of the most largest urban areas affected by rising sea levels and stronger hurricanes. And, importantly in this down economy, the companies say that the smart meter rollout could provide 1,000 new jobs.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Obama Admin Unveils $4 Bln In Smart-Grid Power Tech Funding !!!!
Obama Admin Unveils $4 Bln In Smart-Grid Power Tech Funding
By Ian Talley
Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
* APRIL 17, 2009, 7:37 A.M. ET
WASHINGTON (Dow Jones)--The Obama Administration Thursday unveiled a new solicitation for around $4 billion in stimulus funding for new power-transmission technology.
The Administration wants to spur development of a new artificially intelligent "smart" grid that could drastically increase the efficiency of the nation's electricity infrastructure.
The Department of Energy announced plans to distribute $3.4 billion in smart-grid technology grants and $615 million for smart-grid demonstration projects.
"We need an upgraded electrical grid to take full advantage of the vast renewable resources in this country - to take the wind from the Midwest and the sun from the Southwest and power areas across the country," said Vice President Joe Biden, making the announcement at an ABB Ltd. (ABB) transformer plant in Missouri.
By better managing electricity use and supply - particularly as the country's power infrastructure becomes more complicated as renewable energy and local generation comes online - a smart grid would help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions per kilowatt-hour of electrons consumed.
Under the $3.375 billion Smart Grid Investment Grant Program, the DOE will provide grants ranging from $500,000 to $20 million for smart-grid technology deployments, and $100,000 to $5 million for grid-monitoring devices.
Renewable and transmission companies are eagerly awaiting a new funding opportunity under the stimulus bill signed into law earlier this year, especially as investments had fizzled in the current economic crisis. The federal government approved around $60 billion in loan guarantee authority and more than $30 billion in energy grants under the stimulus bill signed into law earlier this year.
Firms such as ABB, Beacon Power Corp (BCON), Siemens AG (SI), Ambient Corp. (ABTG), and National Grid Plc (NGG) stand to gain from federal investments in the power transmission system.
Power analysts have said it would likely take several hundred billion dollars to completely modernize the power grid.
By Ian Talley
Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
* APRIL 17, 2009, 7:37 A.M. ET
WASHINGTON (Dow Jones)--The Obama Administration Thursday unveiled a new solicitation for around $4 billion in stimulus funding for new power-transmission technology.
The Administration wants to spur development of a new artificially intelligent "smart" grid that could drastically increase the efficiency of the nation's electricity infrastructure.
The Department of Energy announced plans to distribute $3.4 billion in smart-grid technology grants and $615 million for smart-grid demonstration projects.
"We need an upgraded electrical grid to take full advantage of the vast renewable resources in this country - to take the wind from the Midwest and the sun from the Southwest and power areas across the country," said Vice President Joe Biden, making the announcement at an ABB Ltd. (ABB) transformer plant in Missouri.
By better managing electricity use and supply - particularly as the country's power infrastructure becomes more complicated as renewable energy and local generation comes online - a smart grid would help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions per kilowatt-hour of electrons consumed.
Under the $3.375 billion Smart Grid Investment Grant Program, the DOE will provide grants ranging from $500,000 to $20 million for smart-grid technology deployments, and $100,000 to $5 million for grid-monitoring devices.
Renewable and transmission companies are eagerly awaiting a new funding opportunity under the stimulus bill signed into law earlier this year, especially as investments had fizzled in the current economic crisis. The federal government approved around $60 billion in loan guarantee authority and more than $30 billion in energy grants under the stimulus bill signed into law earlier this year.
Firms such as ABB, Beacon Power Corp (BCON), Siemens AG (SI), Ambient Corp. (ABTG), and National Grid Plc (NGG) stand to gain from federal investments in the power transmission system.
Power analysts have said it would likely take several hundred billion dollars to completely modernize the power grid.
Verizon Wireless and Ambient Corporation Join Forces to Offer Utilities Smart Grid Communications Solution
Verizon Wireless and Ambient Corporation Join Forces to Offer Utilities Smart Grid Communications Solution
March 4, 2009
Smart Grid Projects to Use the Networks to Read Residential and Commercial Meters and Transmit Data
BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and BOSTON – Verizon Wireless and Ambient Corporation (OTCBB: ABTG) today announced a joint marketing agreement intended to facilitate the deployment of a host of smart grid projects around the country. The projects will allow utilities to transmit data from both residential and commercial meters over the nation’s most reliable network to the utility companies’ in-house systems.
Significant to the utility industry’s move to the more efficient open standards-based technologies necessary for smart grid applications is access to a robust communications platform. According to Mark Bartolomeo, vice president enterprise data sales for Verizon Wireless, the company’s Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) 3G network provides a secure, high-speed path for carrying data today and as the demand increases in the future.
“We’ve seen significant interest and growth in the utility sector for smart technologies,” Bartolomeo added. “This joint marketing agreement helps us provide utility customers with a solution designed to aid them in planning for long-term growth and profitability. This comprehensive platform holds great promise for extending smart grid applications nationwide.”
Ambient’s X-3000 node, running on Verizon Wireless’ network, provides the communications platform that enables data from residential and commercial smart meters, appliances and other applications to be transported via IP-based technologies over a utility’s smart grid system. This platform allows for two-way efficient collection, analysis and management of energy data to promote more reliable, affordable and environmentally friendly operations.
“As the demand for smart grid applications and bandwidth expands and becomes part of the nation’s energy infrastructure, having the opportunity to offer a solution that allows for such growth in demand should significantly enhance the utilities’ ability to more efficiently serve their customers and reduce their carbon footprint.” said John J. Joyce, president and chief executive officer of Ambient Corporation.
The Verizon Wireless network provides Ambient’s X-3000 with a ubiquitous, reliable and secure data communications backhaul for the Ambient Smart Grid™ platform, which is designed to support such services as advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), energy management, real-time pricing, demand side management (DSM) / direct load control, and system monitoring.
In January, the X-3000 was certified to run on the Verizon Wireless network through its open development program. Verizon Wireless’ open development program is driven by the company’s desire to encourage innovation, give customers new wireless choices, and quickly address opportunities to expand the wireless market.
March 4, 2009
Smart Grid Projects to Use the Networks to Read Residential and Commercial Meters and Transmit Data
BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and BOSTON – Verizon Wireless and Ambient Corporation (OTCBB: ABTG) today announced a joint marketing agreement intended to facilitate the deployment of a host of smart grid projects around the country. The projects will allow utilities to transmit data from both residential and commercial meters over the nation’s most reliable network to the utility companies’ in-house systems.
Significant to the utility industry’s move to the more efficient open standards-based technologies necessary for smart grid applications is access to a robust communications platform. According to Mark Bartolomeo, vice president enterprise data sales for Verizon Wireless, the company’s Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) 3G network provides a secure, high-speed path for carrying data today and as the demand increases in the future.
“We’ve seen significant interest and growth in the utility sector for smart technologies,” Bartolomeo added. “This joint marketing agreement helps us provide utility customers with a solution designed to aid them in planning for long-term growth and profitability. This comprehensive platform holds great promise for extending smart grid applications nationwide.”
Ambient’s X-3000 node, running on Verizon Wireless’ network, provides the communications platform that enables data from residential and commercial smart meters, appliances and other applications to be transported via IP-based technologies over a utility’s smart grid system. This platform allows for two-way efficient collection, analysis and management of energy data to promote more reliable, affordable and environmentally friendly operations.
“As the demand for smart grid applications and bandwidth expands and becomes part of the nation’s energy infrastructure, having the opportunity to offer a solution that allows for such growth in demand should significantly enhance the utilities’ ability to more efficiently serve their customers and reduce their carbon footprint.” said John J. Joyce, president and chief executive officer of Ambient Corporation.
The Verizon Wireless network provides Ambient’s X-3000 with a ubiquitous, reliable and secure data communications backhaul for the Ambient Smart Grid™ platform, which is designed to support such services as advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), energy management, real-time pricing, demand side management (DSM) / direct load control, and system monitoring.
In January, the X-3000 was certified to run on the Verizon Wireless network through its open development program. Verizon Wireless’ open development program is driven by the company’s desire to encourage innovation, give customers new wireless choices, and quickly address opportunities to expand the wireless market.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
