The Smart Grid Consumer Collaborative gained nine new members since its launch just three months ago.
These new members embody one of SGCC’s key principles — to create a neutral and objective forum where all stakeholders can work together toward a modernized electric power system that is consumer safe and consumer friendly.
Consumer electronics and technology companies, retailers and consumer advocacy groups, have formed the Smart Grid Consumer Collaborative (SGCC) to build consumer acceptance and use of the smart grid.
Launched at DistribuTECH, the SGCC will work to understand consumer needs and preferences, reach out to build awareness and educate consumers about the benefits of the smart grid, and share best practices for consumer engagement and empowerment.
The disgruntled backlash over the installation of smart meters in a couple communities in the U.S. (currently Bakersfield, Calif., and Dallas, Texas) has rattled utilities, tech vendors and smart grid startups. In an attempt to start to create a better way to communicate with and educate consumers about smart grid technology, companies and utilities plan to launch the Smart Grid Consumer Collaborative (SGCC) on Tuesday.
via The Smart Grid Industry’s Answer to the Consumer Problem.
“Smart Grid” may be a common enough term to folks in cleantech, but most people don’t know anything about it beyond notice that their utility is replacing their old dusty meters with digital smart meters. The lack of market education has led to backlashes and dead ends. But now a group of companies and organizations with a stake in the Smart Grid have banded together to change the tide.
Spearheaded by the leadership team at Control4, maker of a home energy management and automation dashboard for regular consumers, the new Smart Grid Consumer Collaborative (SGCC) includes big names like General Electric, Best Buy, IBM, Silver Spring Networks, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and the GridWise Alliance. Together, they are going to support programs that build consumer understanding and confidence in the changes being made to build a cleaner, more efficient electrical grid.
via Control4 leads consortium to teach consumers why the Smart Grid is important | VentureBeat.
As an emerging industry globally, smart grid includes many fresh and vital technologies that are needed to make enormous progress in power grid development. A smart grid sends electricity from power suppliers to end users using digital technology to save energy and increase reliability. This modernized electricity network is being promoted by some governments as a way of addressing energy independence or environment issues. The smart grid is a disparate set of goals including facilitating better competition between suppliers; enabling better use of different energy sources; and setting up the automation and monitoring abilities needed for grid at cross continent.
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To reduce power demand during peak usage periods, communications and metering technologies inform smart devices in the house, factory or business building when energy demand is high and track how much electricity is used and when it is used. Electricity price increases during peak usage periods, and decreases during low demand periods. The end user will tend to consume less during peak usage periods if it is made possible for users and user devices to be familiar with the high price premium for using electricity at peak periods. When end users see a direct economic profit to become more energy efficient, it is more likely that they will make wise decisions on consumption.
Based on the United States Department of Energy’s Modern Grid Initiative report, a smart grid should be able to heal itself; motivate consumers to actively participate in operations of the grid; resist attack; provide power of a higher quality that will save money wasted due to power blackouts; accommodate all generation and storage options; and enable electricity markets to flourish.
In China, The Eastern China Grid Corporation, a subsidiary company of the State Grid Corp of China SGCC, started a feasibility research on “smart grid” technology in October 2007. Zhenya Liu, General Manager of the State Grid Corp of China SGCC, China’s largest power grid builder, met with the Minister of Energy of the United States on April 24, 2009. Liu said that “the SGCC is constructing Ultra high and extra high voltage direct current +/-800KV, +/-500KV and alternating current transmission system 1000kV, 500kV, 220kV, and coordinating the development of a smart grid based on information technology and automation technology.”
Known as the largest utility in the world, the SGCC serves 26 provinces and 1.08 billion people throughout China. The SGCC released that it is speeding up the construction of the power network on May 7, 2009.
via Frost & Sullivan Foresees Smart Grid Industry Opportunities in China.
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