The term Smart power grid may best be defined as using communications and modern computing to upgrade the current electric power grid so that it can operate more efficiently and reliably and support additional services to consumers. Such an upgrade is equivalent to bringing the power of the Internet to the transmission, distribution and use of electricity - it will save consumers money and reduce CO2 emissions.
GE en Google werken samen: GE levert transmissietechnologie en smart meters en Google software???
The equipment GE is designing will allow utilities to better monitor voltage and current along the distribution grid. With better information, they can distribute more power down the line while still maintaining stability.
Some ideas at GE's smart grid lab center on in-home displays, including having the software run on a tablet PC or an iPhone Touch. The software will allow people to monitor utility usage and control their appliances, such as scheduling when to charge a battery-powered car. Most likely, though, GE's Ecodashboard software will not run on a tablet PC because they are relatively expensive.
Xcel Energy: In Boulder, Colorado, worden vijftigduizend huishoudens uitgerust met smart meters, die alle data over het verbruik via glasvezel versturen naar Xcel. Gebruikers kunnen via een website gebruik en prijzen monitoren en hun eigen verbruik programmeren.
The target is for Google's internal R&D teams to develop 1 gigawatt of renewable energy that can be produced more cheaply than coal-fired power. Or, as the techies put it:
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Google's philanthropic investment arm Google.org has invested $11 million in AltaRock Energy and Potter Drilling, two geothermal companies in the western U.S.Intel and Google are both pushing hard into power reduction and production. Intel has paved the way in energy-efficient microchips, and Google's constant advances in streamlining daily life make telecommuting more possible than ever.
But with well over 200,000 buzzing servers used to run the world's top search engine, it appears that Google's massive data processing facilities may have started something of an IT arms race.
5-5-2009 Companies including General Electric and Cisco Systems unveiled a new $200 million "smart grid" electricity project in Miami.
Chief Executive Jeff Immelt said in a phone interview from Miami. "It's going to allow for better embracing of renewable technology.
Much of the project, however, involves an already-planned roll out of smart electric meters by Florida Power & Light with its technology partner, Silicon Valley start-up Silver Spring Networks.
General Electric makes the actual meters the utility is deploying, as well as energy management systems for the grid.
Cisco, for instance, is expected to provide in-home networking and devices to help people see exactly how much power they're using. Theoretically, that would spur conservation. "It connects the smart grid to every device in the home," Cisco Chief Executive John Chambers said of Cisco's role in the project. "It's an almost identical replay to what happened with the Internet. You develop new services and support new architecture,"
Under the plan, about 1,000 households will test new systems to help them better manage their power use, including programmable thermostats and smart appliances that can automatically communicate with the new electric meters.