SmartGridNews.com

Following the smart grid money

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 15:12:06 PST

The coffers that bankrolled smart grid projects during the Recovery Act heyday may have dwindled, but we continue to see the Department of Energy and various other agencies dole out money for smart grid initiatives. Where's it going? Who's getting it?

FRIDAY FILES 6.1 - featuring energy news you can use right now

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 15:02:32 PST

Free app gives energy buyers fast access to historical data... IEEE event, scholarships focus on power industry's need to develop tomorrow's technical workforce... Site helps consumers zero in on the most energy efficient products... Steal this idea: TXU Energy's 'Bright Ideas for Kids' site... And finally, a few good reads (have you heard about the V-Pole?)

Ready or not, cellular may be coming to a smart grid near you

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 14:30:13 PST

Cellular has been a hot topic in utility circles recently. At one time a bit player in American smart grid deployments, that role is changing as more and more utilities reconsider their communications network options. If you're not quite up-to-date, IDC Energy Insights can fill you in on recent market developments and cellular's involvement in smart grid.

Chinese solar tariffs: Will they maim or revive the U.S. solar industry?

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 14:19:02 PST

A U.S. Commerce Department decision to slap stiff tariffs on Chinese-made solar panel component manufacturers, an "anti-dumping" measure, has caused quite an uproar. Obviously, the Chinese are not impressed - and even American solar companies can't agree on whether the tariffs are a really good or really bad idea. Is it a big deal? We hope you'll let us know what you think.

ABB stays in full acquisition mode with Tropos deal

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 11:18:39 PST

ABB will yet again add to its smart grid offerings and expand its market footprint with the announcement Friday that it will acquire broadband communications provider Tropos Networks. It's also another sign that the landscape for independent smart grid communications vendors has definitely changed.

Who needs AC? ABB and partners build giant, all-DC data centers

Thu, 31 May 2012 12:55:29 PST

Data centers are a signature of the 21st century knowledge economy and one of the fastest-growing uses for electricity. So the announcement by ABB and partners of a giant new data center that uses high-voltage direct current (HVDC) could be a harbinger of an important trend.

NREL zeroes in on super-efficient AC system for commercial buildings

Thu, 31 May 2012 12:43:30 PST

Smart grid technology isn't always about coming up with entirely new equipment. Sometimes, innovation and existing technologies can yield pretty good results. A government laboratory seems to have done just that with the development of an air conditioning unit that uses 90% less electricity than traditional systems.

Ratemaking landmark: Illinois approves new way to set electric rates

Thu, 31 May 2012 12:33:00 PST

The Illinois Commerce Commission has approved a new formula for determining electricity rates for customers of Commonwealth Edison. The landmark decision has several important aspects. We'll tell you about them, and fill you in on two other important developments from the Prairie State.

Upcoming SGN webinars

Thu, 31 May 2012 11:30:52 PST

Smart Grid News hosts free "Lessons from the Real World" webinars on topics important to the utility industry. We bring in top experts from the field to provide insight and tips. Click to see our current webinar schedule and registration details.

Smart grid projects: 3 whoppers in the desert southwest

Wed, 30 May 2012 14:05:03 PST

We usually think of California and Texas as powerhouse smart grid states. Yet tucked between the two in the desert southwest are some downright interesting projects. A smart grid system touted as the first of its kind in the nation. A giant solar tower of power. And ready or not, that ghost town/smart city project begins construction soon.

Smart Grid Events and Smart Grid Conferences

Wed, 30 May 2012 12:30:45 PST

Industry events and conferences can help you stay on top of industry trends and technologies and make important contacts. Our calendar is loaded with upcoming events, with links for further details. And be sure to jump to page 2, where you can see the conferences Smart Grid News Chief Analyst Jesse Berst will be attending.

Lower cost makes cellular more attractive for utilities (but money isn't everything)

Wed, 30 May 2012 12:30:39 PST

While falling costs have made public cellular networks a more attractive choice for utility smart meter deployments, we think there are other issues utilities need to keep in mind when evaluating which communications system to choose.

Got some explaining to do? Snag NIST's smart grid beginners guide

Wed, 30 May 2012 12:24:28 PST

Executives and media relations professionals working for utilities involved in smart grid probably get the same questions fairly often: What is smart grid, and why should I care about standards? NIST has just released a smart grid beginners guide, a basic introduction to smart grid that lays it all out in a quick, informative read.

Could more Midwest wind really save ratepayers billions?

Tue, 29 May 2012 11:47:07 PST

Additional wind power in the U.S. Midwest could cut wholesale electricity prices by more than 25%, saving a typical household as much as $200 a year, proponents of new renewable energy capacity in the region said. Jon Hurdle of AOL Energy has the details.

Solar plus storage: gaining steam on both supply and demand

Tue, 29 May 2012 11:31:18 PST

Previously a high-priced fantasy, storage packaged with solar on a distributed basis is gaining momentum. Matthew Feinstein of Lux Research acknowledges there are some wild cards, but argues supply and demand will make storage a 'probable reality' for the solar industry.

Free tool helps utilities pinpoint best energy storage options

Tue, 29 May 2012 10:56:19 PST

Sandia National Laboratories and the DOE released a new web tool they say makes it easier for utilities, regulators and developers to conduct a quick, high-level analysis of energy storage options and determine the value of energy storage technologies for a specified application. Click for details and the download link.

Smart grid China: Latest 5-year plan shows why China is pulling ahead

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:23:22 PST

China has consistently embraced an aggressive and all-encompassing smart grid, and the recent unveiling of its 12th Five Year Plan shows clearly why the country is pulling away from the pack.

Help! How do we do customer analytics right?

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:13:46 PST

In addition to numerous other challenges utility decision makers need to address, they also have to contend with evaluating strategies for customer-focused analytics - not to mention how to do it, when, where and if. A new report from IDC Energy Insights offers clear guidance on where to start and how to get through the process.

FRIDAY FILES 5.25 - featuring energy news you can use right now

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:02:35 PST

Venture capital pitch tournament will focus on cleantech... Navy creates online multiplayer energy war game - no uniforms required... Siemens' 'Living Energy' - now there's an app for that... the ZigBee 500... and finally, how to vote for your favorite Green Button app.

Smart grid careers: Private industry poaching utility workers

Fri, 25 May 2012 12:38:04 PST

A story out of Florida illustrates a trend occurring across the country. Lakeland Electric, with roughly 120,000 customers, has been forced to turn to an expensive outside consultant to manage its smart metering project. The reason? Their internal employee was hired away by private industry at twice his original salary.