CapComp to distribute EDLC product in Europe

CapComp GmbH has introduced a new Electric Double Layer Capacitor (EDLC) type ESHSR-0360C0-002R7A in Europe.

The product is manufactured by NESSCAP Ltd. Korea. CapComp has gained the distribution rights for the same from the Korean company for Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The German company added that it also open to enquiries from East and Western Europe.

According to the company, the product has a nominal capacitance of 360F /2.7V and is available in radial housing. Internal resistance (ESR) is specified with 3.2 milli-Ohm. 4 Snap-In contacts avoid incorrect polarity and improve mechanical stability on a PCB. The product is working in an operational temperature range of – 40°C ~ +65°C and manufactured according to RoHS standards.

CamComp highlighted that ultra capacitors in combination with batteries are opening new application areas for optimised mobile energy concepts.

The main applications are as follows: Un-interruptible power supply (UPS); security feature in Wind Turbines; board-net stabilisation in automotive application; energy recuperation; maintenance-free battery-replacement solution.

For specifications, click here:

http://www.capcomp.de/fileadmin/document_download/NESSCAP_Specifications/2_Snap-in_Type/EDLC_360F_-_2_7V_A.pdf

Johnson Controls-Saft bags $8.2 milion contract

The United States Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC) has awarded Johnson Controls-Saft a contract as part of its broad battery technology research and development programme.

The contract is valued at $8.2 million.

The contract will focus on the development of lithium-ion battery systems for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and over the course of two years will seek to validate the commercial feasibility of lithium-ion technology for mass market PHEVs.

USABC, whose members are Chrysler LLC, Ford Motor Company and General Motors Corporation, awarded Johnson Controls-Saft a similar contract in 2006 focused on lithium-ion battery systems for hybrid electric vehicles. It is one of several technology development consortia of USCAR, the United States Council for Automotive Research LLC.

According to USCAR, lithium-ion technology has the potential to dramatically change the personal transportation landscape for consumers. It can support multiple powertrain technologies, from PHEVs to fuel cell vehicles.

For its part, Johnson Controls-Saft is currently working on development of the complete PHEV system.

The system includes high energy capacity cells, battery management electronics, control software and an efficient thermal management system, all optimally packaged for safety and efficient integration into the vehicle.

Mary Ann Wright, who leads the Johnson Controls-Saft joint venture and is vice president and general manager for Johnson Controls hybrid battery business, said that specifically, key goals for this PHEV contract are to optimise cell and battery system design for 10-mile and 40-mile electric range vehicles.

Delphi sells its remaining 19.5 percent stake in EnerDel to Ener1

Ener1 has strengthened its position in the lithium-ion battery segment by acquiring exclusive ownership of EnerDel, including essential manufacturing and intellectual property assets from former JV partner Delphi Automotive Systems LLC.

Ener1 took the remaining 19.5 percent interest in EnerDel that it didn’t already own from venture partner Delphi, which has been in bankruptcy protection since 2005. Ener1 paid $8 million in cash and 2.9 million shares of Ener1 restricted common stock for the EnerDel stake.

Earlier this month, EnerDel indicated about its plans to expand its Indianapolis plant by the end of the year to start commercial production of 600-pound lithium-ion battery packs that will power a Norwegian-made all-electric car.

“We’re planning to expand rapidly. We’re scaling up to some big numbers,” said Charles Gassenheimer, chairman and chief executive of Ener1, had said, according to indystar.com.

EnerDel, which has a manufacturing facility near Indianapolis, has a contract to provide batteries to Norway’s Think Global over the next two years. In June, the companies announced the successful demonstration of an operational battery pack in a Think City electric vehicle.

EnerDel plans a 49,000-square-foot expansion and remodeling of its plant at 8740 Hague Road, where batteries are produced, according to a state-filed building permit. Currently, EnerDel does battery research at the plant and produces limited numbers of lithium-ion batteries for testing and development in electric cars and gas-electric hybrid vehicles.

LTC’s lithium-ion batteries target motor sports industry

Lithium Technology Corporation and Hybrid Racing AG have entered into an agreement to market specialised lithium-ion batteries to power advanced vehicles for the motor sports industry.

The applications will include batteries for cars, boats and planes to be used in consumer and professional racing vehicles.

On the development, Dr. Klaus Brandt, president and chief technical officer, LTC reiterated company’s belief that racing plays a significant role in pioneering the use of new technologies, such as lithium ion batteries. The company manufactures a range of cells with two different types of lithium ion chemistries, iron-phosphate and nickel-cobalt.

After the successful integration of the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) Apollo/HHF Hybrid Concept car (HHCC) made by Gumpert and operated by Heinz-Harald Frentzen, President of Hybrid Racing AG and ex-Formula One (F1) racer and 1997 vice world champion, the parties concluded that there is an immediate need for LTC’s unique and innovative products in the advanced motor sports world.

The first race car utilising LTC's advanced lithium ion battery, the HHCC, uses a 3.3 liter V8 bi-turbo petrol mill with a 100kW electric motor. The 9kWh GAIA® battery is made of 90 high power 27Ah connected in series and weighs about 150 kilograms.

The battery includes an advanced battery management system (BMS) that transmits performance data via satellite for monitoring and enhanced performance control to the technical team. The battery is charged prior to races and recoups energy from braking during the race, as in PHEV mode. The electric range of the vehicle is approximately 50 kilometers.

MMC partners SCE and PG&E for its electric vehicle

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) is gearing for testing and evaluation of the new i MiEV (Mitsubishi Innovative Electric Vehicle) electric vehicle.

MMC has signed a letter of intent with Southern California Edison (SCE) to forge a unique collaboration for the vehicle. As a result, the small, four-passenger Mitsubishi i MiEVs will enter SCE’s prototype testing and evaluation programme.

Tohru Hashimoto, corporate general manager of the i MiEV Business Promotion Office of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation said the collaboration will provide a technical feedback on i MiEV vehicle and battery performance, as well as vehicle connection and integration into the electrical system.

MMC is to also partner with Pacific Gas and Electric Co to test its zero-emission electric car for use in the US. The company shared that the joint partnership with PG&E will yield valuable data and a greater appreciation of the practicality of an all-electric vehicle in California.

The i MiEV electric vehicle, which is based on Mitsubishi’s “i” gasoline-powered mini car on sale in Japan, adapts a zero-emissions state-of-the-art electric drivetrain.

For its part, SCE hopes to help Mitsubishi Motors gauge how electric vehicles will most effectively connect to the smart grid of the future and the next generation Edison SmartConnect advanced meters. In addition, the collaboration may explore future requirements for vehicle communication and connection, helping enable new customer values associated with home energy management and control. The collaboration also complements SCE’s existing work on plug-in hybrids and next-generation advanced batteries and their effective connection and control by Edison’s next-generation meters.

According to MMC, the company has been involved in testing of i MiEV has been occurring over the past two years with seven major utility companies in Japan. These programmes have quickened the pace and prompted Mitsubishi Motors to begin selling the electric vehicle in the Japan market. According to latimes.com, Mitsubishi will begin selling the i-MiEV in Japan starting in August 2009 for between $45,000 and $50,000, not including government incentives of more than $15,000. A non-electric version of the car retails in Japan for about $20,000.

As per the information available, the four-passenger vehicle is smaller than a Toyota Scion xD or Honda Fit, but larger than Mercedes’ Smart car. In the i MiEV vehicle, a durable 330-volt lithium-ion battery system is located under the floor deck and powers a permanent magnet electric motor. The battery, which can be charged in five to seven hours using 220-volt current, gives the i-MiEV a 75-mile range and a top speed of 81 mph.

Ensuring a fit between a business and its chosen demand response programme

Article: Interview with Capgemini’s Doug Houseman

smartelectricnews.com Special

Businesses are increasingly embracing demand response (DR) and load management programmes that not only curtail energy use during the times of peak demand but also result in energy efficiency gains. Considering several benefits such as strategic conservation, time-based rates, peak load reduction, as well as management of energy bills, the adoption of demand response is showing signs of gaining momentum.

For such initiatives, organisations have to diligently plan, implement, and monitor activities, which best fits in with the kind of business of they are in, scale of their operations and other factors.

Providing an insight into how companies should approach and keep a vigil on initiatives related to DR, Capgemini’s Doug Houseman told smartelectricnews.com that all this depends on the characteristics of the company.

Citing an example, Houseman says small retailers probably do not have a lot of electric load they can shift to off peak times, so they need to have lights and heating or cooling during store hours.

“Any programme that causes them to have to cut their usage will mean one of three things - that they have to install more efficient equipment or they will have to curtail their load and impact lighting or temperature in the store or they will have to close during curtailments to deal with the curtailment. Programmes that shift the price of power and do not demand a curtailment may mean that the cost of doing business just went up or that the store hours will have to change,” explained Houseman, who is scheduled to speak during Intelligent Demand Response for Electricity Summit 2008, to be held in Amsterdam on 24-25 November this year.

According to Houseman, for larger businesses the issues are more complex. They need to think about production schedules (such as do I run a night shift instead of a day shift in the summer?) and what equipment they can replace. Should a curtailment programme be the choice for DR, then the question is do they install their own generation to deal with it, and if so how do they deal with the carbon issues?

“Since they mostly are not dependent on customer traffic during the daytime – but rather do things that are out of the direct line of sight of the customers, they have more options, but they also, in many cases, have even smaller margins between profit and loss. Doing the wrong things, can end up with the business having to shift production off shore to a country that has better energy pricing or a more friendly energy policy to large companies,” said Houseman.

In all cases, businesses need to participate in the process of deciding the rules, and how they want to be impacted.

“The future is not that there will be no impact. Rather, the future is that there will be an impact and the question is what will that impact be? What do they want it to be? What will hurt the least?” shared Houseman.

Before planning and executing such initiatives, ones needs to take into consideration that these programmes can also result in other benefits such as deferring the need to build new infrastructure and mitigating the level and volatility of wholesale energy markets. Specialists feel in case of a pilot programme, one should evaluate equipment, acceptance, and improved energy efficiency and the contribution to reducing GHG emissions.

For his part, Houseman acknowledged the fact that without knowing what the rules and incentives will be, it is difficult to decide as a business to make change to hours, equipment, staffing, locations, etc.

Referring to partnering with specialists, Houseman said it should be around determining which kinds of programmes have the smallest negative impact on the business and then working to get them implemented.

“For a small machine shop, high efficiency motors, better air compressors, and rethinking ventilation in many cases can exceed the demand for reduction, and the nice thing is that the changes are in use every hour the shop is open, helping to create long-term savings. But on the margins that most small machine shops operate on, they can not afford the capital costs of doing this. So a programme that would either offer very low cost loans, or would provide rebates for such installations is an important step to opening up the market and as the market grows the cost of this kind of equipment will drop, making it more affordable to others,” he said.

Houseman added that installing equipment monitoring and building control systems helps a lot.

“At the Dutch Tax Authority, installing building monitoring equipment, light switches that turn themselves off and training the staff has resulted in a 19 percent reduction in overall energy consumption. This programme was originally expected to add cost to the agency, but now looks like it may pay back in as little as four years, if the staff sustains their part in the programme,” he pointed out.

If the first step is getting the policy right, then the second is partnering to determine what steps to take.

Houseman says the matrix of options is more than 200 items long and some are simple and quick and others are long and complex. Some of the long and complex ones have faster returns on investment than the simple and quick ones (e.g. the payback for shutting down the factory on a critical peak pricing day – can be either the same day or never, depending on how much electricity you use and the price of the electricity as a component of your outputs).

Getting the right mix of options figured out for each business will be specific to the business, their required operating hours, margins, percentage of their business cost that is energy related and how the energy is consumed.

“Once the right steps are figured out, it is important to look at monetising the energy consumption – can an energy broker or trading firm add to the overall value of the changes you are about to make,” he said.

According to Houseman, it is critical to look at this aspect with an open mind, sometimes things that on the surface seem like a good idea, don’t pan out when the overall market economics are factored in, in other cases – things that look hopeless can have a very positive impact on the bottom line. Once the monetising is complete, then and only then should you undertake to make the equipment, business hour or other changes to your business.

“Finally, the focus should be on getting enough information to plan ahead. In many cases, the electric providers have a day or two’s notice on when it is likely the prices will be higher in a time of use or critical peak pricing market. In a curtailment market, they also have a reasonable chance of determining the curtailments a day or two ahead, in most cases (the failure of a power plant or two in very hot or cold weather can result in a wild swing in market price with very little notice). Getting help through this whole process from people, who make energy their business, will make a big difference in the success of the project,” he said.

Specifically, referring to selection of a partner, Houseman following factors should be taken into consideration:

· Understanding of the local and national regulatory policies and the status of any changes;
· A clear understanding of your business – how you make money and where you use electricity or other energy;
· A clear understanding of the options your business has, if they have fewer than 40 or 50 options for you in their kit bag, you will not maximise your investment;
· An energy broker or trader they work with – and references from that firm;
· A pragmatic approach to improving your situation – in one furniture shop it may be fine to turn off all the power at 5PM and in another in may mean that fumes build up from the finishing process and may cause a nasty explosion. Any partner firm will have to have enough knowledge to walk your business and see what can be done;
· Be product agnostic. If they are pushing a specific product, you will find that is your answer, no matter what your question is.


Intelligent Demand Response for Electricity Summit 2008

Capgemini’s Doug Houseman is scheduled to speak during ‘DR Cost Benefit Analysis: Assess the cost to install, operate and maintain your DR & DSM programme’ of Intelligent Demand Response for Electricity Summit 2008, to be held in Amsterdam on 24-25 November.

For more information, click here: www.smartelectricnews.com/demand08

Or

Contact:
Abbie Badcock ,
Smart Electric News,
abbie@smartelectricnews.com

PG&E tipped to sign $1.7 billion contract for smart meter roll-out

Pacific Gas & Electric Co. (PG&E) is being tipped to sign a contract with General Electric and Landis+Gyr, a provider of integrated energy management solutions, for a $1.7 billion smart meter roll-out.

According to metering.com, the programme will include both gas and electric meters. The value of the metering portion of the programme is estimated to be around $450 million.

The report, attributing the development to an “inside source”, shared that the contract is yet to be signed but it may happen before the end of August. As per the information available, the roll-out programme has been approved by California’s Public Utilities Commission to the value of $1.7 billion, but the utility has apparently gone back to the Commission for an additional $500 million in funding.

“It makes a lot of sense to have more than one supplier...( especially when) we’re going to be deploying something on the order of 10,000 to 12,000 meters per day,” reportedly said PG&E senior director of the smart energy web programme, Andrew Tang.

In the same report, Paul Moreno, PG&E Corp. spokesperson, said the installation of smart meters will reduce peak demand by approximately 400 MW.

Harnessing the power of wireless technology for AMI transport

AT&T Inc. and Itron have come up with a solution that will enable utilities to use proven standards-based cellular technology for their Smart Grid AMI initiatives to transport device data and control messaging more efficiently.

Itron’s advanced meter infrastructure (AMI) solution will be delivered over a cellular network. The communications holding company’s cellular data network will be integrated with Itron’s OpenWay local-area networking to give utilities two-way communications for access to data from meters throughout their systems.

According to the companies, this combination allows utilities to quickly collect, measure and manage energy usage and provide a more reliable and affordable supply of power without having to build and operate costly, proprietary communications networks.

The solution will help utility companies to streamline operations while gathering the critical information required to serve their customers, said Regina Egea, senior vice president, Business Marketing, AT&T Global Business Services.

The two companies will jointly market Itron’s OpenWay AMI solution to utility companies in the US.

The benefits for utility companies would include ubiquitous coverage required for AMI data transmission; timely data needed to promote energy management, demand response, detect outages and deliver more accurate billings statements to customers; time-based pricing, prepaid power options and the ability to remotely switch service on or off; allowing utilities to self-manage the deployment of AMI and Smart Grid devices through AT&T’s ordering, activation and management systems for high-volume customers.

GE Energy acquires Kelman Limited

GE Energy has strengthened its smart grid product portfolio with the acquisition of Kelman Limited, a provider of advanced monitoring and diagnostics technologies for transformers.

Post this acquisition, Kelman’s employees are now part of GE’s transmission and distribution operations.

The acquisition will expand GE’s smart grid portfolio by providing utility customers with a more comprehensive product offering.

Kelman says it is currently breaking new ground in transformer monitoring with the implementation of new Dissolved Gas Analysis (DGA) techniques, which are a vital part of the decision making processes for strategic plant. The company is also counting on other breakthroughs in transformer gas analysis and more sophisticated data analysis software programmes to enhance its reputation in this field.

According to GE Energy, which helps utilities to increase their productivity and reliability, Kelman’s advanced DGA capability delivers a new level of predictive maintenance for the utility industry allowing utility operators to have greater line of sight into the health and longevity of their transformer fleets.

The company’s advanced DGA technology provides critical condition monitoring for high power electrical transformers. This technology enables Kelman to deliver state of the art multi-gas portable and on-line DGA equipment.

After this deal with Kelman, General Electric Co. has indicated that its energy transmission and distribution equipment business is expected to reach $5 billion in annual sales within five years, up from about $2 billion now.

“That’s going to require a lot of investment in the business,” Bob Gilligan, GE’s vice president of transmission and distribution told Reuters. “It will also require acquisition of additional business.”

Gilligan added that GE is focused on buying “technology-driven companies” whose products will help modernise and improve the efficiency of power grids worldwide.

Comverge lowers its revenue outlook

Comverge, Inc. has lowered its revenue expectations to a range of $80-$90 million in an updated revenue outlook for full year 2008.

Referring to the second quarter performance, Robert M. Chiste, chairman, president and CEO, Comverge said the total megawatts under management is 2075, which includes 40 megawatts subject to regulatory approval.

“Our expected contracted revenue now stands at approximately $376 million and we have expanded our commercial and industrial demand response business by adding megawatts in several new geographic territories,” said Chiste.

The company’s full year revenue outlook has been impacted by a regulatory change in grid operator PJM's rules for its economic programme. It will result in a reduction in the revenues, which Comverge receives under economic, or voluntary, demand response programmes.

Comverge is focused on three long-term value creation metrics by which the company operates megawatts owned under long-term contracts, megawatts managed under open market programmes, and future payments from the long-term contracts.

In the recent past, the company has entered into a new contract with Southern California Edison (SCE) to implement a Virtual Peaking Capacity programme of up to 40 megawatts. The programme will utilise demand response resources from SCE’s commercial and industrial customers to provide the utility with capacity and energy resources for a term of four years. Other than this, Comverge has been selected for a key pilot programme at Dominion Resources to run a pilot residential demand response programme.

Second quarter revenues for 2008 were $9.5 million, a 106 percent increase compared to $4.6 million in the second quarter of 2007.

NaREC and CENER to address renewable solutions at a community level

UK’s New and Renewable Energy Centre (NaREC) and National Renewable Energy Centre of Spain (CENER) have joined hands for a one-year project.

For this project, which will focus on creating new ways of generating and distributing power from small-scale renewables within communities, technology experts from the UK’s leading renewable energy R&D centre will work with their counterparts at CENER.

On the significance of the tie-up, Dr. Keith Melton, Director of Technology and Innovation at NaREC said the centre would be addressing renewable solutions at a community level in a way which has not yet been previously attempted by the energy industry.

According to NaREC, there is a significant amount of interest across Europe in so-called ‘Smart-grid’ systems better capable of transmitting and distributing power from different renewable resources in a reliable, flexible electrical network. Creating localised, intelligent electrical networks, will protect power users from the future risks of black-outs and periods of electricity shortages when electricity supplies struggle to meet with increased energy demands during peak periods.

The team is currently identifying existing communities within Spain and the UK with populations of between 10 and 25 000, which can be used as test subjects for ‘smart-grid’ renewable systems. The project will showcase the most appropriate technical solutions for integrating low carbon power generation technologies into a localised, community-based electrical system.

The project followed agreements made between former Prime Minister Tony Blair and President Zapatero of Spain to deepen collaboration between the two countries in the field of renewable energy. Officials at the British Embassy in Madrid and the President’s private office developed the concept, which is now being delivered by NaREC and CENER.

ZENN Motor’s plans buoyed by certification of EEStor’s technology

ZENN Motor Company’s goal of developing zero emission vehicles including highway capable electric vehicles has received a major fillip with its strategic partner EEStor gaining the third party verified permittivity milestone.

ZENN, which is also an equity investor in EEStor (3.8 percent) with the option of increasing its position upon EEStor’s announcing third-party permittivity test results, is already gearing up for the commercialisation of EEStor's energy storage technology.

The company is targeting the launch of the cityZENN, powered by EEStor, in the fall of 2009.

The cityZENN is planned to be a fully certified, highway capable vehicle with a top speed of 125 kph/ 80 MPH and a range or 400 kilometres/250 miles. Powered by EEStor, the cityZENN will be rechargeable in less than five minutes, feature operating costs 1/10th of a typical internal combustion engine vehicle and be 100 percent emission-free.

ZENN also plans to expand its low-speed product line-up for the 2009 model year with a four-passenger and a utility low-speed vehicle.

The company has exclusive rights to EEStor’s technology in the following markets: All new vehicles up to 1400 kg (curb weight), net of battery weight; All retrofit conversions of existing internal combustion vehicles to electric; All golf carts and small to mid-sized utility vehicles

Chinese bus manufacturer chooses Maxwell’s ultracapacitors

Maxwell Technologies has completed delivery of 720 of its 48-volt multi-cell Boostcap ultracapacitor modules to Xiamen Golden Dragon Bus Co., Ltd. for installation into 45 hybrid buses.

For its part, Xiamen Golden Dragon Bus, which sells large-and-medium-sized luxury buses and light vans under the trade mark of Golden Dragon, is producing diesel-electric hybrid buses for Hangzhou Public Transport Group Co., Ltd.

On the development, Golden Dragon’s Hybrid Bus Program Engineer George Dong said that the 48-volt Boostcap module gives the company a versatile building block for easy integration into various high-voltage configurations for heavy vehicles.

Golden Dragon delivered the first prototype hybrid bus with an ultracapacitor-based energy storage system to Hangzhou in July 2007, for comparison with other hybrid drive systems under actual operating conditions.

According to Maxwell, Boostcap modules meet transportation industry requirements for watt-hours
of energy storage and watts of power delivery per kilogram, and are designed to perform reliably through one million or more deep discharge cycles, or about 10 years of operational life for most vehicles.

For Maxwell, the revenue of Boostcap ultracapacitor increased by 76 percent to $6.8 million in the second quarter, compared with $3.9 million for the same period last year.

In the recent past, the company had also received an order from Vossloh Kiepe GmbH, a producer of heavy vehicle drive systems, for 300 125-volt Boostcap ultracapacitor modules for emission-free electric trolley buses it is producing in collaboration with Van Hool NV for the Milan, Italy, municipal transit system.

Pentadyne Power asserts its supremacy

Pentadyne Power Corporation is asserting its supremacy as the world’s number one producer of flywheel energy storage systems.

The company has stated that it has surpassed Active Power for the same, sharing that during the first half of this year it shipped 34 percent more flywheel systems than Active Power.

Pentadyne president and CEO Mark McGough pointed out that at a challenging time for capital expenditure sales, the company is still growing at a rate of over 40 percent.

The company stated that its systems also offer greater value in terms of energy efficiency – 90 percent less standby energy use than that of the Active Power CleanSource flywheel – and fewer, shorter and far less costly maintenance needs because the service-intensive vacuum pump and mechanical bearings have been engineered out of the product.

McGough said despite the fact that Pentadyne’s 190-kW product has only been commercially available for just over 24 months, it is an inherently reliable product.

“And reliability is what customers pay for in the backup power market,” said McGough. “We expect that our next generation products will see similar market uptake.”

Recently, Pentadyne had signed a five-year partnership agreement with UPS manufacturer Socomec for distribution of Pentadyne-made products in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

In April this year, Pentadyne had shipped its 500th flywheel energy storage system. In addition, the company announced that the installed fleet of Pentadyne flywheel energy storage systems – primarily used with large-scale uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems instead of lead-acid batteries – has amassed a total of two million hours of operation.

Kraftwerke Linth-Limmern allots $31m contract to ABB

ABB Ltd. has bagged an order worth $31 million from Kraftwerke Linth-Limmern AG (KLL) to supply two turnkey substations and auxiliary power equipment for a hydro storage power plant facility at the Tierfehd hydro power plant in Switzerland.

The order is part of KLL’s refurbishment and expansion plans for its installations at Tierfehd, which are due to be completed in 2011. ABB’s technologies will help to stabilise the regional grid and make better use of the generation capacity available in Switzerland.

ABB will supply and install two gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) substations, rated at 220 kilovolts (kV) and 50 kV, along with air-insulated components and the complete substation automation system.

Kraftwerke Linth-Limmern AG produces 460 million kW h of electricity every year. The construction of a pumped-storage power facility with a pump/turbine rating of 1000 megawatts is planned for 2015. It will be built inside a mountain, 600 meters below the surface near the town of Linthal.

In another development related to ABB, its Board of Directors of ABB Ltd. recently appointed Joseph M. Hogan as CEO of the ABB Group. Hogan, who is currently CEO of GE Healthcare, will join ABB on September 1, 2008.

Georgetown University to work with Electro Energy

Georgetown University, which has been associated with the development of transportation fuel cells for over two decades, has chosen Electro Energy for a customised battery pack.

Electro Energy will be supplying the customised battery pack utilising its patented Bipolar Wafer Cell Nickel Metal Hydride technology for the Georgetown University Methanol Fuel Cell Transit Bus Integration and Test Project. In addition to this, it will also provide engineering and technical expertise.

The company will partner with other team members, such as EV America, to develop the bus design as well as the battery and fuel cell integration and test plan to deliver a methanol fuel cell transit bus.

Georgetown University, under a Grant from the Federal Transit Administration (an agency of the US Department of Transportation), is developing the next-generation liquid fueled (methanol) fuel cell power plant to be integrated and tested on a heavy-duty hybrid electric transit bus.

The key objectives of Georgetown University’s Advanced Vehicle programe are to support the development of fuel cell technology and assist industry in commercialisation of fuel cells for transit applications. The Fuel Cell System (FCS) is envisioned to be sufficient to power a 30-foot hybrid electric transit bus when optimised for operation with an energy storage system on the bus.

The fuel cell system will include a fuel cell, fuel processor (methanol), controls, air treatment, cooling system, and water management subsystems.

Advanced Vehicle Development at Georgetown began in 1983, with feasibility studies for fuel cell powered transit buses conducted with Los Alamos National Laboratory.

IBM works on technical blueprints for smart grids

IBM is preparing a technical framework “to accelerate new technology integration into the creaky electricity distribution grid.”

This was recently shared by Drew Clark, director of strategy for IBM’s Venture Capital Group, according to CNET. The report added that the focus is on a common set of communication protocols and data formats that utilities and smart-grid start-ups can adhere to. IBM’s San Mateo-based Venture Capital Group has been charged with finding partner companies that can help the tech giant offer its customers comprehensive data center solutions.

IBM is developing a software framework for writing applications that takes advantage of the two-way communication of smart-grid technologies.

Last year, IBM facilitated a 125-home pilot study of smart-grid technology for residential users on the Olympic peninsula in Washington.

In April this year, when IBM had teamed up with Country Energy, Australia’s biggest power system operator, to develop smart grids, it was then shared that with this and other ventures, IBM is targeting a global power grid infrastructure market worth about $81 billion and estimated to grow at about five percent a year through 2010. The core element of the initiative is an open digital network that remotely senses and directs the flow of electricity, enhancing efficiency by more intelligently managing load -- the amount of electricity flowing over the grid at any given moment -- while selecting power from the most efficient local generation sources.

Among other companies, SAP is involved with SAP AMI Lighthouse Council, which is a consortium of vendors and utilities addressing business processes and use cases to support AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure) to create the SAP for Utilities solution.

FirstEnergy’s Ohio utilities come up with Electric Security Plan

The electric utility companies of diversified energy company FirstEnergy Corp. have filed an Electric Security Plan (ESP) with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO).

The filing features Ohio Edison Company (Ohio Edison), The Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company (CEI) and The Toledo Edison Company (Toledo Edison). It would phase in generation rates over a three-year period and incorporate the companies’ distribution rate case that was filed with the PUCO in June 2007.

Anthony J. Alexander, president and chief executive officer of FirstEnergy said the plan “protects customers from the kind of rate shock experienced in other states” while providing for appropriate investments in system reliability

He added, “At the same time, our company will provide up to $50 million to support energy efficiency, demand reduction and economic development and job retention programs under the plan.”

Under the plan, total customer rates - including generation, transmission and distribution - would increase an average of 5.3 percent in 2009, four percent in 2010 and six percent in 2011. Of the 2009 increase, approximately 3.2 percent is related to the companies’ pending distribution rate case. If approved, the ESP would represent the first increase in base rates since 1990 for Ohio Edison and 1996 for CEI and Toledo Edison.

Although the percentage change in rates will vary depending on usage, the impact on a typical residential monthly bill from Ohio Edison based on 750 kilowatt-hours (kWh) would be a decrease of $1.28 in 2009, followed by an increase of $3.06 in 2010 and an increase of $3.67 in 2011.

For CEI, the decrease would be $0.10 in 2009, then an increase of $3.45 in 2010 and $1.29 in 2011. For Toledo Edison, the decrease would be $0.16 in 2009, then an increase of $3.06 in 2010 and $3.30 in 2011.

Proposed rates reflect the end of transition cost recovery for all three companies, including CEI, which was scheduled to continue collecting regulatory transition costs through 2010. The filing is required under Amended Substitute Senate Bill 221 (Am. Sub. SB 221).

Demand response trade association gets new members

Several companies including IBM Corporation and Orion Energy Systems have joined the Demand Response and Advanced Metering (DRAM) Coalition, a trade association for the demand response industry.

Other companies, which have joined the Washington, DC-based non-profit organisation, are Eka Systems, Direct Energy, Site Controls Energy Services, Tendril and Ziphany.

Frank Magnotti, president and COO of Comverge’s Alternative Energy Resources Group and chairman of DRAM said the new companies will help DRAM in its mission to educate policy makers, utilities, the media and stakeholders on all aspects of demand response.

DRAM stated that the list of new entrants exemplifies the growing diversity of the demand response industry.

Eric Dresselhuys, vice president of marketing for Silver Springs Networks, and vice-chairman of DRAM, said there are increasingly more players in the demand response space, with either demand response as their primary business model or as a new business area added to their portfolio of offerings.

“We are seeing companies from the information technology and smart grid sectors, as well as the traditional energy efficiency area, join DRAM and support its efforts to help grow the demand response industry and deliver the unique value demand response can provide in addressing the challenges facing the electricity industry and its customers,” said Dresselhuys.

UISOL gears up for growth in demand for Smart Integration services

Utility Integration Solutions, Inc. (UISOL) has expanded its Smart Grid/Smart Metering consulting practice to meet expected growth in demand for its Smart Integration services.

The utility industry business integration specialist has recently strengthened its team with the addition of Mark Day.

Day, who joined UISOL following a senior role at AMI systems technology, said, “With our core focus on the integration of demand response (DR) and Meter Data Management (MDM), UISOL offers utilities a unique blend of business process and integration expertise that sets us apart.”

Since its inception in 2002, UISOL has provided business integration and related services to over 40 utility industry customers.

In the first half of 2008 alone, UISOL served seven different utilities and ISOs with Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), DR and MDM related services.

Specifically under demand response solutions, UISOL’s recent efforts include the development and successful California collaborative field simulation of the Demand Response Business Network (DRBizNet) in 2006, and the implementation of DRBizNet for PJM Interconnection, LLC that is currently in progress.

UISOL DRBizNet software enables market operators and utilities to efficiently, reliably, and securely manage DR processes end-to end.

Advanced metering technology being tested in the District of Columbia

A group of selected residential electricity consumers in the District of Columbia have been chosen for a pilot programme, PowerCentsDC, described as the first in the electric utility industry to test the response of residential customers to three different innovative pricing options under one programme.

Via this initiative, an advanced metering technology is being tested. Plus, the consumer are also checking out pricing options that could assist them in curbing their monthly bills by better controlling their power consumption.

From this pilot, organisations involved hope to get an insight into how consumers react to pricing information. They also want to learn whether consumers alter their usage habits, potentially resulting in lower energy costs, achieving energy efficiency gains and a reduction in the amount of kilowatts needed to supply the District of Columbia’s demand, thereby benefiting all consumers.

The two-year pilot project, funded by $2 million from Pepco through a settlement agreement, will include about 1,200 randomly selected District residents representing all eight city wards.

A “smart meter” will be installed at each participant’s residence to measure electricity use at hourly intervals and transmit usage data to Pepco each day through a wireless communications network.

The three pricing options are Hourly Pricing, Critical Peak Pricing and Critical Peak Rebate. The participants can save on their bills by reducing electricity usage during designated hours when wholesale electricity prices are high. Participating Pepco customers will be notified of forthcoming high prices on the previous day.

Pepco Holdings, Inc., the corporate parent of Pepco, anticipates that the implementation of this technology widely will help in controlling of the regional electricity prices during peak demand periods.

The District’s utility regulators approved the programme that was filed by Pepco on behalf of Smart Meter Pilot Program, Inc., a nonprofit company.