The smart grid buildout could be one of the largest creators of wealth in the decade, according to Pike Research. The installation of more than 250 million smart meters — electricity meters that provide real-time information about energy consumption and enable two-way communication between a utility and a consumer — will grow to a $3.9 billion global market by 2015, says the research firm.
To connect those smart meters, utilities are using their own licensed frequencies, cellular networks and WiMAX, explains Earth2Tech — and that network is tied to Electric Vehicles to even out electrical demand.
The Silver Springs provides a connection to electricity, water and gas meters over a neighborhood area network (NAN). It supports a variety of WANs, including Zigbee and cellular networks. Florida Light is deploying hundreds of thousands of smart meters in people’s homes throughout Florida using Silver Spring Networks IP-based networking infrastructure.
- Portland General selected a smart metering system developed by Sensus Metering Systems, which uses a wireless fixed network operating on 901 – 902 MHz at 8 KBps (pdf).
- CenterPoint Energy is installing 2.2 million smart meters around Houston with more than 550 sensors and automated switches that will help protect against system disturbances like natural disasters (Coverage Map).
Grid Net, formed a collaboration with GE Energy and Intel, focusing solely on WiMAX for their last mile connectivity. Motorola, General Electric and Grid Net are part of a group of companies installing smart meters in almost 700,000 households and businesses in Australia by 2013. Grid Net and GE Energy also appear to be positioned to rollout initiatives in U.S. WiMAX cities.
- Alvarion, the world’s largest WiMAX vendor, recently announced it will work with National Grid, the second-largest utility company in the U.S., to participate in a smart power grid (SPG) Proof of Concept with its BreezeMAX 3650 solution (at 3.65GHz), as part of a technology test-bed for potential pilot projects in New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
- Cisco Systems and IBM have pursued smart grid projects across the globe. Cisco officials in May announced a smart grid push as keys to developing highly intelligent and manageable electrical distribution systems from the home to the power source. They say smart grids could grow into a $20 billion business within five years.
- Google has brought home electricity-monitoring to the mobile phone using its Web-based PowerMeter application and a small meter reading device.
- Microsoft has announced launch partnerships with Puget Sound Energy, Sacramento Municipal Utility District, Seattle City Light, and Xcel Energy. The Microsoft Smart Energy Reference Architecture (SERA) was developed by Microsoft as a definitive reference in the utility and power industry and addresses technology integration across the full smart energy ecosystem. Enspiria Solutions, a systems integrator, will use it.
Electric vehicles are closely linked with the smart grid buildout, explains Earth 2Tech. That’s because electric cars can act as storage on wheels for the “virtual oil field” that is wind energy. They can charge at night using excess juice from wind turbines.
The Nissan Leaf (above), Mitsubishi Miev, Think, and others are scheduled to arrive next year with charging infrastructure installations expected to begin in summer of 2010.
Hybrid electric vehicle like the Toyota Prius, Honda Insight, Ford Escape Hybrid, the Ford Fusion and Chevy Volt combine a conventional internal combustion engine propulsion system with an electric propulsion system.
Hybrids range is unlimited (using gas after 40 miles). They don’t need to worry about range.
But electric cars, running solely on batteries, must stop and recharge. They only have a range about 100 miles. Electric cars are also equipped with online navigation systems to find the nearest recharge station. In 30 minutes, the Nissan Leaf can recharge 80% of its battery. Other companies, like Better Way (above), swap out whole battery packs in just minutes, less time than to fill up with gas.
The Better Place AutOS system will use wireless technology. Continental will supply Better Place with the first systems in the fourth quarter of 2009 for initial tests with EVs in Israel and Denmark. The system from Continental enables the Better Place in-car software to help EV drivers know where and when to charge, allow car and driver to communicate with the Better Place network, provide continuously updated, personal energy mapping for drivers.
Alcatel-Lucent has rigged a Toyota Prius with an LTE connection to create a WiFi hotspot in the car. They worked with QNX Software Systems — an in-car operating system supplier. It features home control with direct connection to home automation and security to manage climate control systems, lighting, etc. or monitor home or business IP security cameras with streaming video feeds.
Earth2Tech has eight cool iPhone apps for the connected car from the BMW ConnectedDrive to the ZipCar app.
At this week’s Mobile Future forum, Tom Kalil of the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy spoke about the relationship between the Smart Grid and wireless networks. (Thanks, Eric)
