Wi-Fi Alliance joins forces with HomePlug Powerline

The Wi-Fi Alliance and the HomePlug Powerline Alliance announced a recent agreement to collaborate on applications that allow smart energy grids to interoperate with "connected" homes.

The two alliances are part of the Smart Grid Interoperability Panel, a forum that coordinates smart grid standards. They plan to collaborate on wireless and wired network applications for what the forum calls its Smart Energy 2 Applications Profile.

To read more about this collaboration, click here.

Constellation NewEnergy VP calls for real-time use data

Federal decision makers need to change the way they think about energy, Constellation NewEnergy said yesterday at the Public Sector Energy Symposium the firm hosted in Washington, DC. “Real-time information is the key,” said Peter Kelly-Detwiler, senior VP of energy technology services at retailer Constellation NewEnergy.

While federal agencies including the military buy energy, they need to think about how they buy. Some of that “how” comes from the competitive energy market.And now may be the time for those who are among those who use the most power to do things in new ways.

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BRIDGE Energy Group Selected by Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) as the Smart Grid Integration Partner

BRIDGE Energy Group, the trusted advisor and implementation partner in Smart Grid Integration, today announced that OUC—The Reliable One has selected BRIDGE as the Smart Grid integration partner for its Smart Grid initiatives. OUC, which provides electric and water service to more than 313,000 metered accounts in Central Florida, will start integrating Meter Data Management (MDM), Customer Information System (CIS) and Outage Management System (OMS) applications as part of a broader Smart Grid initiative.

BRIDGE will leverage its proven eFAME™ Methodology to integrate OUC's newly acquired eMeter MDM application with OUC's existing CIS and OMS applications across distributed locations. eFAME is BRIDGE's comprehensive and integrated suite of methodologies and blueprints to perform strategic assessment, develop Smart Grid strategy, evaluate vendor products and implement application integration. BRIDGE's technology agnostic and vendor neutral approach will enable OUC to work with various application vendors under a uniform set of standards, thereby reducing risk and bringing transparency across all Smart Grid tracks.

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OPower waiting to add devices to its portfolio

Tendril's purchase of GroundedPower does not change OPower's strategy with respect to entering the smart grid devices space,according to Ogi Kavazovic, OPower senior director for marketing & strategy. The Tendril-GroundedPower deal is gratifying in some ways, he said, noting OPower has been preaching for some time that energy data is not enough to engage consumers.

The acquisition of GroundedPower made public last week will let privately held Tendril offer more management services in the energy-efficiency space. Tendril currently focuses such efforts on real-time energy use displayed on websites and in-home displays. GroundedPower helps consumers set energy-efficiency goals and provides reports on individual and community participation.

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Honeywell UtilityPRO Becomes Fastest-Selling Demand Response Thermostat

Honeywell announced that UtilityPRO™ has become the fastest-selling thermostat for utility-sponsored demand response programs. Since the technology was introduced in 2008, Honeywell has shipped more than 350,000 of the touchscreen programmable thermostats, which give utilities control over peak consumption while helping homeowners cut energy costs.

Thirty-three utilities in the United States and Canada have already selected the thermostat for their demand response efforts. By 2011, Honeywell expects UtilityPRO will give these utilities combined control of more than 500 megawatts of peak energy use — equivalent to the generation capacity of approximately 10 gas-fired peaking plants.

Utilities and end users access UtilityPRO through a built-in communication module. In addition, utilities can communicate directly with customers by sending customized text messages — an industry first. Specifically, they can send information like weather forecasts, and updates on other efficiency and conservation programs.

For the full release, click here.

Tendril and Lockheed Martin Collaborate to Deliver Integrated Demand Response Solutions

Tendril, a leading energy management technology provider and Lockheed Martin announced they will be working to integrate Lockheed Martin's SEEload™ Demand Response Management solution with Tendril's energy management platform. The integrated solution provides a comprehensive demand-side management solution that gives consumers greater control over their energy consumption and enables utilities to deploy comprehensive, secure and standards-based demand response (DR) programs.

The integration enables utilities to deploy Open ADR-based (automated demand response) programs across their residential, commercial and industrial customers. Demand response is increasingly viewed as an essential way to meet growing demand, comply with peak load and emissions reduction targets, and help customers control energy costs.

Lockheed Martin's Smart Energy Enterprise Suite, or SEEsuite Smart Grid Command and Control™ applications gives utilities and system operators unprecedented insight into enterprise operations and control of their smart grid assets.

The Tendril platform helps energy service providers gain insight and control over their energy load by utilizing products and applications that communicate directly with a Utility's existing infrastructure, and subsequently provide customers with the information they need to make good energy management choices day to day.

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Toyota To Release a Smart Energy Management System in 2012

In an effort to enable its customer base to better control its energy consumption, Toyota recently announced that it is developing a smart center system that links homes, vehicles and electric power companies. The Japanese automaker will launch the smart grid initiative in 2012 when it rolls out its new line of plug-in hybrids.

The all-in-one energy management system will allow customers to use their television or mobile phone to monitor the amount of energy that is consumed by their home. Users can also check how much their hybrid vehicle has charged and how much power has been stored at their house.

Authorities with the auto giant expect the system will be able to reduce home energy consumption by as much as 75 percent, according to the Daily Tech. Unfortunately for consumers, Toyota will only launch the system in Japan for the time being, and consumers must own a brand-new plug-in Toyota to incorporate the system into their home.

For the full article, please click here.