Smart Grid Blog

Arcadian Networks, a developer of wireless broadband communications systems for the energy industry, announced the availability of its new smart grid gateway on March 3.  The AE20r is a second generation router/gateway that incorporates a variety of technologies with many helpful applications and smart devices.

Real time, bi-directional communications are the building blocks for all smart grid solutions.  Arcadian Networks offers customized services to the energy, oil and gas, and renewable energy industries including network deployment, systems integration, and customer service.

via Arcadian Networks launches smart grid gateway.

The 10 MW Tower in Dubai is quite a renewable energy machine. The skyscraper is pumping out 10 times the amount of energy it needs and is exporting power to the surrounding neighborhood.

Studied Impact, the architects behind the 10 MW Tower, note that the tower has three energy producing systems: a horizontal axis wind turbine, a concentrated solar power armature and an updraft tower.

via Dubai tower exporting 10 times more renewable energy than needed – SmartPlanet.

The governments and corporate giants alike are investing billions of dollars in smart grid power distribution systems. But problems relating to the “power-gap” continue to hinder these initiatives. Neah Power Systems, Inc., or “NPWZ,” a company that has been developing long-lasting, efficient and safe power solutions for the military and for portable electronic devices has come up with a solution for addressing the shortcomings of the power-gap.

via Neah Power to Capture Asian Markets with Renewable Energy Solutions.

Recent research by the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) has shown that many European Member States are on course to achieve their target of 20% renewable energy by 2020, with some even set to exceed the target. This is a fantastic achievement for the EU in terms of tackling climate change and ensuring that renewable energy is a reliable resource for the future.

via Renewable Energy in EMEA: The Critical Role of Smart Grids (Oracle Utilities Blog).

Two national laboratories, the state of New Mexico and a Japanese agency are teaming up to develop smart grid technology that would allow homeowners and businesses to take advantage of more renewable energy sources by better controlling the supply and demand of electric power.

via KOB.com – Japan and NM collaborate on smart grid tech.

Since Texas was the USA energy capitol of the 20th century, it is not surprising to see Texas lead the USA to more renewable fuel production uses. There are areas in West Texas that receive high amounts of sunshine and high wind activity. To harness these bountiful, inexpensive and renewable energy sources, the Texas State legislature passed legislation that created competitive renewable energy zones (crez) to research and develop wind and sun power. Just 5 of these zones will double the USA wind power capacity. Combine this with the solar power these CREZ could harness and transmit to Texas urban areas, energy self sufficiency becomes less a dream and more a reachable and attainable goal for the foreseeable future.

via NewsWire – Farouk Shami “improving the Texas electric grid is key to our new energy economy”.

The Business Spectator has a look at some of Google’s initiatives to transform the way we produce energy – Google’s search for smart power.

Most people expect there to be a transformation of the energy industry, but what if it turns out to be a total revolution?

Most talk focuses on a possible move to distributed rather than centralised power supplies, the introduction of smart grids and the replacement of fossil fuels with renewable energy supplies such as wind, solar, marine and geothermal.

via Peak Energy: Google’s search for smart power.

The government must provide better strategic leadership to encourage the rollout of smart grid technologies in the UK, according to a critical new report from the cross-party energy and climate change committee MPs, which recommends an urgent upgrade of the UK’s transmission network.

Paddy Tipping MP, who sits on the committee, said the existing grid had been developed to serve an outdated fossil fuel economy. “The future looks very different,” he said. “By 2020 the UK electricity network will need to accommodate a far more diverse energy mix that includes a much higher proportion of renewables that cannot respond so easily to fluctuating demand.”

via Government must accelerate smart grid rollout, say MPs – 24 Feb 2010 – BusinessGreen.com.

Distributed ICT [information and communication technologies] will organize distributed energies. Renewables like wind, solar, geothermal and biomass are found in some proportion everywhere, in people’s backyards. As people begin to harvest these renewable energies they can share electricity peer-to-peer across an internet-like smart energy grid that extends across nations and even continents. We see buildings as the new power plants. Buildings are the number one source of C02 emmissions, but they might also be the solution if they can harness renewables to produce their own energy on site. People will also need new energy storage technologies like hydrogen. The EU has committed 8 billion Euros to hydrogen storage technologies. Those technologies will give us dependable distributed energy.

via The Oil Drum: Australia/New Zealand | Mythological thinking, the de-industrialisation of the West and the New World Order.

The EU has ambitious plans for more efficient energy usage across the continent that integrates renewable sources into a secure power grid that emits far less CO2.  These goals, if they are to be reached by 2020, are heavily dependent on a successful smart grid deployment.

The smart grid will bring about a number of improvements to the power industry including the ability to include renewable sources.  Consumers will have a far better handle on how they are using energy through the use of a smart meter or display unit and utilities will have much more visibility into the level of supply and demand with the networked smart grid architecture.

via Europe’s goals rely upon smart grid development.

Referencing a draft technical report submitted as part of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) implementation of the Global Warming Solutions Act, Secretary Ian Bowles says the commonwealth is on its way to achieving a reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The act calls for a reduction of GHG emissions of 10% to 25% below 1990 levels by 2020.

via North American Windpower: Content / New & Noteworthy / Report: Massachusetts’ Clean Energy Policies Will Produce Dramatic Reduction GHG Emissions.

A new research institute focusing on the development of sustainable energy was launched Thursday in the U.S. state of Texas.

The Texas Institute for Sustainable Technology Research would focus on sustainable technology such as advanced electricity meters, founder Jonathan Shapiro told a press conference in Dallas, Texas.

via New Texas institute to focus on sustainable energy research.

Silicon Valley earned its name and first great fortune as the cradle of the computer age. Then it built a launching pad for the Internet age. Now the valley has assumed a leading role in the global competition to develop renewable energy and other clean, green technologies.

via Cleantech: Silicon Valley’s next great wave of innovation – San Jose Mercury News.

Atlantic coast offshore wind power initiatives were until recently limited to one or two, and the resource wasn’t taken seriously as part of the Smart Grid renewable energy effort. Now five of the nine East Coast states are working toward offshore wind projects. While National Grid has negotiated to buy offshore wind power from at least one proposed project, other utilities might look at this buildup in interest a wake-up call.

via Smart Grid: Smart Grid Renewables: Virginia Gets Aggressive About Wind.

Smart Grid advocates have long insisted that new renewable energy, information and communications technologies will transform the country’s electric grid into a strong, safe, secure system and significantly cut pollution along the way. A new report seems to agree.

via Smart Grid: Lab Report: Smart Grid Technologies Could Slash Energy Use, CO2 Emissions by 18% in 20 Years.