Tomorrow (May 25th) the World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT) kicks off in Amsterdam. This is the 17th edition of the biannual event which began in 1978 and will feature around 280 keynote speakers from business, government and academia.
Posts Tagged ‘energy’
Spotlight on Global Standardization: WCIT 2010
Monday, May 24th, 2010The Smart Grid Last Mile(s) – Part 3
Thursday, April 1st, 2010In the previous section of the blog (read Part 1 HERE, Part 2 HERE), we saw the multiple standards bodies that operate at the interface of the Smart meter (AMI) and the Home area network (HAN). In this concluding section, we shall see the role of the customer.
The consumer and the interface to the consumer is a key part of the HAN and AMI systems. The consumer consumes electricity, natural gas, water or other utility and consequently has the greatest potential to conserve and manage the consumption of those utilities
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The Smart Grid Last Mile(s) – Part 2
Wednesday, March 31st, 2010In the previous part of this blog (read Part 1 HERE), we discussed the Smart Grid vision. In this section, we shall see how the Smart Grid extends to the home network.
It is important to realize that the last mile (the home), can extend to the ‘meter’ OR it can proliferate deeper into every device connected to the home network. As we can imagine, there are already standards for home networks. So, the question is: How does Smart Grids interface to home networks?
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ICT Standardization for Optimal Energy Use
Thursday, December 17th, 2009
Throughout the industrialized world legislation for greenhouse gas emissions is being, or will likely be enacted, over the coming years. These programs will introduce significant operational/financial cost impacts as well as opportunities for many industrial sectors.
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Open Standards and Climate Change
Thursday, December 17th, 2009
ICT in general is both a heavy user of energy, and can be a tool to make more efficient use of energy possible. ICT and Energy in this respect are somewhat like symbiotic twins, both need the other to thrive, especially in a perspective of increased demand for energy, depletion of fossil fuel reserves and especially climate change.
Smart Grid 101
Thursday, December 17th, 2009Smart Grid technology is aimed at creating a more dynamic power grid where users can ‘interact’ with the system and actively control their energy consumption thus reducing costs. It can use digital technology in delivering energy which leads to an increase in reliability and transparency. Ambitions of what Smart Grids can accomplish are grand, but so are the possibilities.
For the home consumer, new technology might result in the ability of electronic equipment to shut off or hibernate automatically whenever it is not used. Or, since (near) real time data will be transported and displayed in homes, the consumer can choose to run machinery when overall demand is low. On a larger, regional scale, Smart technologies can make it possible for energy to be transferred to essential functions such as hospitals, fire department etc in case of emergency.
Real time data transfer could also enable systems to automatically respond to interruptions, outages, changes in weather etc. It can also work as an incentive for consumers to avoid heavy energy consumption during peak hours thus optimizing grid usage.
But not only consumers can decrease costs by using Smart technology; utilities will reduce costs from meter reading, turn on/turn offs and customer support, since inquires about billing specifications will decrease (http://www.oracle.com/industries/utilities/pdfs/oracle-utilities-smart-grid-basics-wp.pdf). Also, since the power grid will be used more optimally there will not be the same need to invest in expanded infrastructure.
All and all, a Smart Grid can significantly reduce energy consumption and consequently, greenhouse gas emissions.
At the center of Smart Grid development are interoperability standards since it is paramount that all the equipment can work together. Most common are wireless standards, e.g. IEEE 802, WiMAX and WiFi. Standards are necessary, it is argued (http://www.smartgridnews.com/artman/publish/grid_research/Smart_Grid_Standards_Done_Right.html), to implement at an early stage as not to end up in a situation where several, non-interoperable solutions exist.
In the US, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has been appointed responsible for coordinating the framework for Smart Grid interoperability, and they recently published a draft publication of the framework and standards road map (http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/releases/smartgrid_interoperability.pdf). The report presents 31 standards for which a strong stakeholder consensus is believed to be found and 46 additional standards which might be suitable for implementation.
In the EU, Smart Grid policies operates under the European Technology Platform (http://cordis.europa.eu/technology-platforms/) and aims toward creating a joint vision for an European Smart Grid by 2020 (http://ec.europa.eu/research/energy/pdf/smartgrids_en.pdf). A key step in reaching this goal is said to be the implementation of shared technical standards that will ensure open access.
Since power grids are huge pieces of infrastructure, the digitalization process involves huge sums of money. In Europe alone the investment needed to upgrade the current grid is estimated to € 500 billion and the US build out is valued at $ 20 billion a year (http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10241102-54.html). Naturally this attracts market giants such as Cisco, IBM and Intel.
Hopefully however, the benefits of the Smart Grid will reach all. Consumers will be more in control of their energy consumption and costs; utilities will be able to increase reliability in deliverance and cut administrative costs; and the environment will benefit from the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Clearly, Smart Grids are an essential and beneficial part of the transition into the digital society.
Smart Grid technology is aimed at creating a more dynamic power grid where users can ‘interact’ with the system and actively control their energy consumption thus reducing costs. It can use digital technology in delivering energy which leads to an increase in reliability and transparency. Ambitions of what Smart Grids can accomplish are grand, but so are the possibilities.
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