One day after IBM announced its new SAFE software package for utilities and Smart Grid startups, Cisco Systems has announced its own consortium of companies adopting common IP-based communications standards for the “smart grid”. The company hopes to network Smart Grid stakeholders into a completely interoperable ecosystem, reports Venture Beat.
Technology companies like Cisco, IBM, Microsoft, Google and Intel are teaming with utility companies to tap into Smart Grid funding. The smart grid is an upgrade of 20th century power grids, enabling the routing of power in more optimal ways to respond to a very wide range of conditions.
Cisco consortium partners, including major meter makers Itron and Landis+Gyr, software firms Accenture and Oracle, and wireless providers like Verizon. Utilities like Florida Power and Light, and Duke Energy sit on its advisory board.
Left out of Cisco’s sandbox was Silver Spring Networks, a company that uses unlicensed 900 MHz spectrum and some cellular networks for its wireless technology. Another company, Grid Net (below), formed a collaboration with GE Energy and Intel, is focusing solely on WiMAX.
Companies involved in the IBM consortium, like meter data-sharing network provider Trilliant and home energy management company Tendril, hope to slice and dice the data they receive from smart meters in order to make it useful for both them and their customers, explains Venture Beat.
Cisco has a slightly different approach, focusing on collection and transmission of power data, not its interpretation. Cisco will be adopting its IP-based communication infrastructure in order to remain interoperable with one another. Cisco plans to offer its consortium companies consistent solutions to beef up security along the whole energy supply chain.
Dailywireless Smart Grid articles include Alvarion Partners in Smart Grid Test, Sprint Announces Smart Grid Ambitions, ABI: Stimulus Means Big Bucks for Wireless, The Smart Grid: Licensed or Unlicensed Spectrum, Cellular-enabled SCADA, Smart Grid: Dumb or What?, Smart Grid: It’s Alive!, Google: Smart Power R US, 900 Mhz Telemetry, Traffic Cameras and ITS and the Corpus Christi Cloud .
