Google has expanded its PowerMeter home-energy management software into Europe in its new partnership with German utility Yello Strom. The announcement made this morning on the official Google.org blog marks the ninth utility — and the first European one — to partner with the giant search engine company.
In its blog post about the partnership, Google describes the meeting with Yello Strom’s CEO and the demo of its Sparzähler meter as “fate.” And in a cursory glance at the Sparzähler, it certainly looks like a good match for Google PowerMeter.
For one, it opens Google to the European market. Yello Strom, a subsidiary of Energie Baden-Wurtternberg, one of Germany’s largest energy companies, has more than 1.4 million customers and offers commercial smart meters. It’s Sparzähler meter — meaning savings counter or meter — has broadband connectivity that allows Google PowerMeter users to see 15-minute interval data in nearly real time, according to the Google.org post.
via Google PowerMeter Snags First European Utility Partner | BNET Energy Blog | BNET.
