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If the amount of B$ 4.5 for "Smart Grid" Technology in the recently passed stimulus bill is any indication of a market that is poised to become extremely attractive for investors this year, then the utility space is definitely the place to be.
Today, frequently occurring electric outages, commonly referred to as blackouts or brownouts, provide more than a hint that our electric grid is in drastic need of upgrade. However, reliability is only one challenge power utilities face today. Efficiency is another issue entirely. Electric energy cannot be stored efficiently, demand - peak demand to be exact - dictates the amount of electricity that must be generated, stored and distributed across the grid. Some researches claim a 5% reduction in peak demand may lead to an estimated B$3 in annual savings! It’s not just the financial impact of reducing peak demand that’s notable, but also the environmental consequences of building new (or needing fewer existing) power plants.
So, What is the SmartGrid?
The next generation of electrical grid, now known as "Smart Grid", promises to address both reliability and efficiency issues with the current grid. The grid integrates advanced two-way communications systems and sensors into the transmission and distribution network to enable utilities to optimize grid performance in real-time. This ‘Smart Grid’ allows utilities to understand demand and regulate supply. Most importantly, utilities can reallocate electricity during times of crisis or peak demand to prevent outages through proactive diagnosis of the grid and its individual elements.
All of this requires bi-directional and real-time communication with meters and other devices such as sensors on the electric grid, be that via wired (e.g. power line carrier etc.) or wireless data communication technology. Currently in the US, 110 million households receive their gas, water and electricity from about 16,800 Utilities. Of the estimated 142 million meters in the US, roughly 20 million use wireless meter reading (AMR) technology. Most of these devices use proprietary wireless technology, often 900 MHz “meshed” wireless, and very few are capable of real-time, bi-directional communication.
The WiMetry platform is an Internet Protocol-based, bidirectional wireless data concentrator designed for applications in the utility sector. WiMetry enables smart grid functions such as demand response, peak demand reduction and other advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) applications via wireless networks. It is based on industry standard TCP/IP communication protocols and is compatible with common meter reading software applications. WiMetry supports the latest in 3G high-speed wireless data communications and is backward compatible with existing EV-DO wireless networks, taking advantage of ongoing investments made by network operators to build-out, improve and maintain ubiquitous, reliable wireless networks supporting the latest standards, thereby enabling utility companies to focus on their core business rather than having to establish and maintain their own proprietary wireless networks.
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