BPL Global provides Integrated DER Solution to Jersey Central Power & Light

Smart grid technology company BPL Global has collaborated with Jersey Central Power and Light (JCP&L) to deploy an Integrated Distributed Energy Resource (DER) management system to demonstrate energy efficiency and reliability as well as customer satisfaction in JCP&L's service area.

The project combines JCP&L distribution design and operations expertise with BPLG software solutions and device technology. Smart grid technology will support JCP&L's efforts to coordinate the management of distributed generation, renewables, energy storage and demand management.

According to JCP&L, the DER management pilot will exemplify the value and viability of targeted peak load management as a source of system reliability and energy efficiency for distribution circuits.

The Integrated DER project will deliver a projected eight megawatts of direct load control consisting of five megawatts from about 3,500 residential customers and three megawatts from 30 to 90 commercial and industrial customers.

The technology allows real-time management of the energy delivery system based on the changing conditions of the distribution network. The system can be configured to respond differently based on the condition of the grid, whether operations are normal, or under high load. Using the DER management solution can result in energy, operational, capital and environmental efficiencies that have the potential to create significant value for electric customers and utilities.

The pilot programme incorporates smart grid technology and is also consistent with demonstrating alternative means of cost-effectively addressing critical goals related to demand response in the New Jersey Energy Master Plan, said Steve Morgan, president, JCP&L, a subsidiary of Akron, Ohio-based FirstEnergy Corp.

Dominion Virginia Power ties up with Elster

Dominion Virginia Power, a subsidiary of Dominion, has chosen Elster's EnergyAxis System Smart Grid Solution for use in the utility's recently announced energy conservation plans.

In 2009, Dominion plans to deploy 200,000 smart meters as part of a large demonstration programme of smart grid technology in urban and rural areas of Dominion's service territory. Dominion expects to improve customer service and business operations through advanced system control, real-time outage notification, and power quality monitoring.

As part of this programme, Dominion is deploying a number of smart thermostats with the EnergyAxis System for a residential critical peak pricing pilot this summer. Dominion will measure customer responsiveness to changing energy prices and the impact on energy demand during peak usage periods.

Dominion's plans for using EnergyAxis System strengthens a long-standing relationship between Dominion and the smart metering and smart grid system solutions company.

As per the information available, Dominion Virginia Power plans to invest about $600 million to create a "smart" electric grid that it said will produce environmental benefits while providing customers with substantial cost savings. The smart grid is part of a larger conservation plan, called "Powering Virginia". The company hopes to begin implementing programmes next year.

The smart grid will allow energy to be delivered more efficiently and will result in significant energy savings by allowing more precise control of the energy flow, Dominion said.It plans to replace all of its existing electric meters with Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), capable of two-way communications, as well as additional equipment to monitor and control the electric distribution system.

eMeter leverages VMware technology for hardware cost savings

eMeter Corporation has joined the VMware Technology Alliance Partner (TAP) programme.

The VMware TAP programme helps technology vendors integrate their products with VMware virtualisation software and deliver timely, joint solutions to mutual customers.

Through eMeter's support of EnergyIP software running on VMware Infrastructure 3, eMeter's utility customers now have a combined solution to increase performance, cut operating costs, and achieve greener operations.

The company stated that VMware Infrastructure 3 improves business continuity and strengthens the security of eMeter's EnergyIP software. The capabilities of VMware virtualisation software and technology help eMeter customers cut costs through virtualisation and hardware consolidation resulting in reduced hardware and operating costs required to run EnergyIP.

Cost savings and benefits are realised immediately through a smaller total foot print in the datacenter including lower overall power and cooling requirements and a smaller carbon footprint enabling customers to meet their green initiatives.

Apart from providing hardware cost savings, VMware Infrastructure also provides a built-in redundant infrastructure that will meet many IT shops' high availability and disaster recovery needs.

"We are presently working on offering templates and appliances which would reduce the implementation time significantly," said Larsh Johnson, president and CTO, eMeter.

"This also fits well with the fact that EnergyIP, as meter data management (MDM) software, is a cornerstone component of the Smart Grid infrastructure and key to the ability of utilities to implement large-scale consumer energy efficiency programmes," shared Johnson.

eMeter provides software that enables utilities to realise the full benefits of their Smart Grid and Advanced Metering initiatives including demand response programs. Demand response programs have been shown to conserve up to 20 percent of electricity typically used, says the company.

State of Rhode Island focuses on New England's energy resources

The State of Rhode Island has entered into a five-year contract with EnerNOC, Inc. The development is being described as a positive one in Rhode Island's broader mission to promote environmentally responsible energy policies.

As per the contract, EnerNOC, a developer and provider of clean and intelligent energy solutions, will manage demand response capacity from city, town and government-related buildings into the Independent System Operator of New England, Inc. (ISO-NE) market.

Under the contract terms, individual government buildings can enroll in EnerNOC's technology-enabled demand response network. Each site will be paid for agreeing to reduce non-essential electricity consumption during periods of peak demand. In addition, each participating site will gain basic access to EnerNOC's PowerTrak energy management platform, which enables users to view and analyse their energy consumption data in near real-time and measure efficiency gains.

The pact will also result in a revenue stream for the State that can be used to fund other government programmes.

"As Rhode Island is facing skyrocketing energy costs and consumers are being asked to pay more for electricity, reducing non-essential consumption is an important component of our commitment to support reliable, cost-effective and environmentally sustainable energy solutions," said Governor Donald L. Carcieiri.

Providing consumers with price incentives to use power efficiently

eMeter's EnergyIP software has set the foundation for the first mass market application based on real-time interval meter data with the release of EnergyIP version 6.0.

EnergyIP version 6.0 is marketed globally in partnership with Siemens and other system integrators.

Referring to real-time interval meter data, Cree Edwards, CEO, eMeter said the development is absolutely fundamental to the premise of energy efficiency and demand response.

The usage of power efficiently depends on options like time of use (TOU) and critical peak pricing (CPP) programmes where power prices reflect the real time-variable costs of energy, including future carbon costs.

In this context, Edwards said that these types of pricing programmes cannot be implemented without interval data and usage-based billing and added that EnergyIP is the leading application software supporting real-time interval data management on a massive scale.

The new version also covers the requirements for complex commercial and industrial (C&I) billing using interval data from these accounts. Functionality to support consumer solar and other renewable energy initiatives through the net metering processes is also in place.

These new functions are layered on a broad foundation of real-time processing that includes event handling, VEE (Validation, Estimation & Editing), and Billing Determinant computations.

Version 6.0 also supports connectivity to 17 different Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) systems from leading providers such as Elster, Landis+Gyr, and Sensus. These off-the-shelf adapters allow utilities to choose a wide range of AMI technologies without custom coding and without the future headache of maintaining custom code.

VYCON proves its worth to YICT

China’s Yantian International Container Terminal (YICT) has agreed to buy additional units of VYCON’s mobile cranes.

The decision to place a new order for REGEN Crane Energy Storage systems was based on a test conducted by the Shenzhen-based company, a joint venture established by Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH) Group and Shenzhen Yantian Port Group.

YICT is responsible for operating and managing Phases I, II, III, Expansion Project and West Port at Yantian Port.

The test conducted at YICT showed that retrofitting a Rubber Tired Gantry (RTG) crane with the VYCON REGEN system and optimising the generator can provide up to 38 percent in fuel savings. At the operational rates found at YICT of approximately 10 moves per hour, the REGEN system reduced fuel consumption by 30 percent.

VYCON’s strength not only lies in controlling fuel costs but also in reduction of emissions be it during lift cycles or the overall operation. It derives such benefit from its high recycling capabilities, which optimise RTG cranes’ (mobile cranes designed for the movement of shipping containers once they are placed into the distribution channels from the ship) diesel generator operation by storing energy during lowering cycles (regeneration) and quickly releasing this regenerated energy for lift cycles.

These transitions are seamless and instantaneous, according to the company.

VYCON is expects to reap benefits from such performance as Yantian is a preferred port of call for mega-container vessels in South China.

The YICT Expansion Project is currently under construction. This project includes six container berths involving an investment of over RMB10 billion. It is scheduled to be completed by 2010.

AES gets closer to commercial deployment of grid-scale energy storage

Power company AES Corporation has taken a significant step towards the commercial deployment of grid-scale energy storage.

The development emerged with the successful completion of a demonstration and validation programme for a two-megawatt 500 kilowatt-hour battery system purchased by AES Corporation.

AES Corporation and Altair Nanotechnologies, post their agreement last year, have been developing a suite of energy storage solutions. This first solution is a modular unit designed to deliver in excess of one megawatt of power and 250 kilowatt-hours of energy per unit. Multiple units can be linked together in systems to provide both more power and more energy storage.

According to Altair, the grid-scale validation is expected to open new markets in the utility sector for Altair’s battery technology. The tests are important as they also indicate that lithium-ion batteries can be used for utility-grade energy storage. Right now, most short-term energy storage is done by lead acid batteries.

This demonstration also suggests that the technology could be used for several other utility applications.

For testing, the system was installed and operated at a substation owned by Indianapolis Power & Light (IPL), an AES company.

The system contained two one-megawatt battery storage units each consisting of one Altairnano 250 kilowatt-hour lithium titanate battery stack, AC-to-DC power conversion system, HVAC units, a control system and transformers to connect to the IPL grid.

The capacity of each unit was tested by repeatedly charging and discharging at one megawatt for 15 minutes during the process. In a second test, two megawatts of power from each of the units were used to show the capability of paralleling two separate systems. Additional testing included simulated frequency regulation, which involved switching the units from charge to discharge at up to one megawatt of power every four seconds for several hours.

The programme was developed and validated by KEMA, Inc. and executed by AES personnel and subcontractors.

Chris Shelton, director - Energy Storage Development, AES said, “Fast-responding, high-efficiency energy storage systems such as these will create a more resilient grid and allow for increased use of variable generating sources such as wind and solar.”

As per the information available, A123 Systems, which makes batteries for plug-in hybrids and power tools among other devices, is also actively pushing into utility storage.

ABAT ready for showing its expertise during Beijing Summer Olympics

Advanced Battery Technologies’ (ABAT) intelligent battery management system is ready for the forthcoming 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics.

The power management system will be used at the National Aquatic Center. It has been developed and derived from ABAT’s Intelligent Battery Management System (IBMS).

The development, according to the six-year old company, validates that its technology is for multiple uses.

ABAT develops, manufactures, and distributes rechargeable polymer lithium-ion (PLI) battery cells for use in rechargeable PLI batteries for electric automobiles, motorcycles, mine-use lamps, notebook computers, walkie-talkies and other electronic devices

Zhiguo Fu, CEO and chairman, ABAT said that a project of this magnitude authenticates the utility and functionality of company’s Polymer Lithium Ion batteries for electric vehicles.

Its intellectual property polymer lithium ion battery employs stack technique. Its structure is multi-stack parallel connection rolling type. This technique has gained patent rights from State Intellectual Property Office of the People’s Republic of China.

ABAT says various tests done for the product show that it is practically superior to liquid-lithium ion battery that is now widely used in the market.

ABAT has a New York office, with its executive offices and manufacturing facilities in China. Last year, the company had opened an office in Beijing to develop nano-based batteries for electric cars.

A CAES plant in Central Iowa gets US$1.5 million funding

Central Iowa is preparing to construct a Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) plant to provide clean, dispatachable power using wind energy while simultaneously enhancing the value of stored natural gas reserves.

The development emerged as Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that the Committee will fund $ $12.8 million for transportation, economic development and flood control projects in central Iowa. The funding will be included in the 2009 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) and Energy and Water Appropriations subcommittee bills.

In the break-up of the funding, it was shared that budget worth US$1.5 million was marked for Iowa Stored Energy Plant (ISEP).

A group of 150 municipally-owned electric utilities in Iowa and surrounding states proposed and financially supported the idea of regional grid stability throughout the Midwest.

On the occasion, Harkin said “As energy costs continue to soar, we must search for new, sustainable and cost-effective methods of production. Iowa is a leader in the production of wind energy, and the Iowa Stored Energy Plant is the first renewable energy-based, energy storage system for wind energy.”

ISEP is a joint project of municipal utilities in Iowa and several nearby states.

In a CAES at the ISEP facility, air will be compressed using low-cost, off-peak electricity, and wind that is not being sold on the grid at that time. The air is stored in a deep underground geological formation for later use in making electricity. When energy is needed, the stored air will be released, heated and used to drive generating turbines. The electricity it produces can be used as needed, especially during high-demand peak hours. This process uses less fuel than a conventional combustion-turbine facility.

By using compressed air energy storage and wind power together, an environmentally friendly, alternative energy source is available to homes and businesses.

The Iowa CAES site will be located near the optimal geological site for storing air, with wind turbines near the best wind resources.

Enable IPC makes progress with its ultracapacitor nanotechnology

Enable IPC (Intellectual Property Commercialization) Corp. is gearing up for the first commercial use of its ultracapacitor nanotechnology.

The company has partnered with Spain’s IMDEA Energy Institute to jointly develop ultracapacitors based on Enable IPC’s patent-pending energy technology.

The initial project for this venture will be related to incorporation of Enable IPC’s ultracapacitor into the SA2VE clean energy innovation programme.

Under the new partnership, IMDEA Energy will work directly with Spanish company Green Power and a national lab in Spain known as CEDEX, while Enable IPC will provide enhanced ultracapacitor electrodes to the organisation for integration into a new power conditioning unit.

Manuel Romero, deputy director of IMDEA Energy Institute, which focuses on energy-related R&D, said the decision to go ahead with such partnership is based on numerous improvements that Enable IPC’s process produced over today’s current market-ready ultracapacitors.

For its part, Enable IPC claims that its ultracapacitor technology has already matched or exceeded the cycle life of commercially-available devices.

“As a point of reference, many rechargeable batteries have a useful life in the 1000s of cycles. That is, you can charge and discharge them at most a few thousand times before they are no longer useful,” according to researcher Kevin Leonard, one of the inventors of the Enable IPC ultracapacitor. “Ultracapacitors, on the other hand, can generally be charged and discharged hundreds of thousands of times.”

In its laboratory testing in December last year, Enable IPC’s ultracapacitor had surpassed one million cycles while still maintaining over 80 percent of its initial capacity, which according to Leonard, matches some of the best performance reports the company has seen in ultracapacitor life cycle testing.

GE again! Partner with Intel and Grid Net on Smart Grid solutions

Grid Net announced key collaborations with GE Energy and Intel Corporation, focused on providing innovative Smart Grid solutions. Grid Net has been working with the companies to architect and produce open, standards-based, industry-leading Smart Grid products and services for utilities.

The collaboration has been productive. The companies have already established the key technological underpinnings for Smart Grid solutions, which include:

• An open, interoperable Smart Grid communications and networking platform based on WiMAX, a leading 4G wireless broadband standard which is supported across the globe by the WiMAX Forum, a consortium of 522 industry leaders in the communications ecosystem, including Intel and Grid Net.
• Grid Net’s PolicyNet Smart Grid NMS™ software, of which core components are based on the Common Open Policy Service (COPS) engine1 and Intel® WiMAX Connection software reference kit, enabling an open standards-based, reliable, scalable, extensible, secure, policy-based networking platform for the Smart Grid, and
• GE Energy’s next-generation WiMAX SmartMeter products, which integrate Grid Net’s PolicyNet firmware, and the Intel® WiMAX Connection 2250 and Intel® WIMAX Connection 2400 chipsets (formerly codenamed Baxter Peak).

"Implementing the Smart Grid requires a truly open approach, using the best products and technology," states Ray Bell, founder and CEO of Grid Net. "Our focus is all about offering utilities a broader choice of better solutions, at lower costs. That’s why we’re pleased to collaborate with Intel and with GE Energy, and to leverage the ongoing innovations of more than 500 leading WiMAX technology providers into a Smart Grid ecosystem of open standards-based communications, utility transmission and distribution automation, and advanced metering products and technologies."

"The deployment of Smart Grid solutions addresses the issues of a growing population and climate change by increasing the productivity, reliability, and efficiency of our current electrical power grid. In addition, these technologies will empower the consumer to manage their electricity spend and usage, which will enable all consumers to become a part of solving the energy challenge now facing our planet,"says Bob Gilligan, general manager of Transmission & Distribution. "At GE Energy, we have made a choice to be actively engaged in developing these technologies to meet this challenge"

"WiMAX will enable innovative applications for a variety of industries," said Sriram Viswanathan, vice president, Intel Capital and general manager, Intel WiMAX Program Office. "Grid Net and GE’s Smart Grid solution is a brilliant example of what we can expect from solutions built with WiMAX technology’s performance, cost-effectiveness and standards-based, open architecture"

Open Standards and Interoperability

Implementing and managing the Smart Grid requires an "ecosystem" approach, where technology vendors collaborate using open standards to deliver an open, secure, cost-effective and intelligent technology infrastructure comprised of:

• Smart grid devices that are always on-line, via
• Reliable, high-speed, high-bandwidth, secure telecommunications networking, so that distribution automation, demand management, and other energy services are provisioned, delivered, consumed and analyzed rapidly and efficiently, and
• Centrally managed via policy networking (or business rules driven) software and protocols, to ensure consistent, cost-effective and adaptive energy service delivery
Smart Grids Require Truly Open Solutions
Grid Net is catalyzing an ecosystem of providers who believe that the optimal technology for implementing and managing the Smart Grid should be:
• Built on open standards and protocols, so that utilities can choose the most innovative and cost effective solutions, and avoid "single vendor, proprietary product lock-in" seen in other solutions
• High performing and scalable, in order to cost-effectively manage tens of millions of customer energy service delivery points, meters, and other distribution automation devices
• Integrated, interoperable and optimized, to leverage innovations from all technology and product providers, the Smart Grid solution ecosystem of vendors, customers, and standards groups
• Resilient and adaptive, so that the Smart Grid can self-heal points of failure, or provision new services rapidly and cost-effectively — self-healing, self-provisioning, and self-optimizing
• Secure and reliable, so that Smart Grid devices and services are well protected, and meet both governmental and industry Smart Grid security specifications, guidelines, and recommendations

MapFrame and GE Energy sign agreement - but whats it got to do with Smart Grids?

MapFrame Corporation announced that its shareholders and GE Energy have signed a purchase agreement enabling GE Energy to acquire MapFrame. The transaction, which is subject to customary closing conditions, is expected to close at the end of June.

Combining MapFrame's expertise with GE Energy's worldwide reach, the acquisition will offer global customers a more comprehensive product line of mobile mapping and field automation technologies, significantly enhancing the GE Energy smart grid portfolio.

"Our innovative mobile mapping and field automation technologies including our FieldSmart software are an excellent fit with GE Energy's Smallworld portfolio and other geospatial solutions," said Paul Wilson, MapFrame founder and chief executive officer. "The acquisition is extremely positive news for all our customers and provides us with significant opportunities to further our solid reputation for worldclass products and services. As with GE Energy, we are dedicated to our customers and will continue to support all current customer projects, all platforms, and all partnerships. Our unique capability to work with any technology will also not change."

Mobile mapping and field automation technologies enable utilities to boost their productivity by automating field-based business processes through a map-centric user interface.

According to Martin Ansell, general manager of GE Energy's Smallworld business, "This new, fast moving and rapidly growing technology segment is highly complementary to GE's Smallworld business and consistent with our smart grid strategy. MapFrame's employees bring a wealth of experience in mobile mapping and field automation solutions and will be a welcome addition to our Smallworld business team."

Black & Veatch Launches Smart Utility Service Offering

Black & Veatch, announced it has launched a new set of service offerings, Smart Utility, to provide full-scope solutions in the development and implementation of today’s Smart Grid technologies.

"The Smart Utility service offerings bring together all aspects of technology that enable utilities to provide additional services to their customers, enhance the security and reliability of electric infrastructure and implement renewable power initiatives," said Martin Travers, President of Black & Veatch’s Telecommunications Division. "Black & Veatch has extensive experience in providing energy, management consulting and telecommunications services to utilities and provides clients a single-point of contact for all their needs."

The service offering includes such elements as front-end consulting, design, operations and customer delivery initiatives. Smart Utility also can assist utilities in obtaining regulatory approvals for Smart Grid technology implementation.

The Smart Utility offering fosters more efficient energy usage and cost controls in delivery of reliable and sustainable energy supplies to commercial and residential customers. This includes a web-based interface capability for end-use energy customers.

Development of Black & Veatch’s Smart Utility typically begins with the establishment of a robust, well-planned telecommunications network to provide high-quality power system operation capabilities. The Smart Utility approach is to utilize advanced technologies designed to enhance electric infrastructure reliability, reduce power consumption during peak demand times and facilitate connection of distributed generation sources, such as photovoltaic arrays or small wind turbines.

Travers said technology upgrades associated with Smart Utility include automated meter reading through wire line or existing wireless networks, development and implementation of back office information technology systems and applications, new power generation – both traditional and distributed, substation automation and other electric distribution services.

"Black & Veatch has been serving electric utilities for more than 90 years," added Rodger Smith, President of Black & Veatch’s Enterprise Management Solutions Division. "Smart Utility provides our clients with a single resource for implementing the next generation of the U.S. electric infrastructure to help address a nexus of issues including energy assurance, safety and security, sustainability and climate change."

IBM Partners with Utility Industry to Set Energy Efficiency Agenda

At an event attended by business leaders from North American utility companies, IBM (NYSE: IBM) issued a call to action between the IT and utility industry around energy efficiency, expanding IBM's existing collaboration on Intelligent Utility Networks to include corporate consumption of energy for data centers and facilities. The initial utility company to support this initiative is Con Edison of New York.

IBM is seeking to engage public sector utility companies to tackle significant corporate energy efficiency issues by jointly developing awareness on current levels of data center and facilities energy consumption and creating plans to reduce, monitor, verify and benefit from reducing energy consumption. IBM is also announcing a new carbon assessment service and a new virtual green data center.

New Energy Demand Management Programs

IBM, in partnership with utility industry leaders, plans to develop new energy demand management programs aimed at helping business of all sizes reduce energy consumption across the complete data center and facilities landscape. Major elements include educating IT departments on energy consumption, targeting specific projects that offer immediate energy reduction, helping customers monitor and verify progress, and applying for incentives that reward energy reduction.

IBM is working with leaders in the utility industry to reward businesses for reducing energy through the use of Energy Efficiency Certificates (EECs). These certificates from energy efficiency projects-- a first of kind program with results verified Neuwing Energy Ventures—an independent third party—are an easy way to verify that the amount of electrical energy savings resulting from specific energy efficiency projects is real and permanent.

New is the expansion of the program across the entire data center and facilities landscape. Customers earn certificates for the total energy demand reductions attributable to a project based on total megawatt hours saved through a certified Measurement and Verification (M&V) plan of energy reductions, an emerging business metric for corporate sustainability, which creates a true measurement of energy reduction. The end goal being the joint promotion of efficient use of electricity that results in reduced emissions of green house gases and other pollutants —these verified results lead to real environmental protection.

In addition to traditional data center projects, is the new ability to verify projects and earn certificates for reducing energy consumption beyond the data center including facilities components such as office lighting systems, cooling requirements, monitors and printers. Going forward generating the data required to validate energy reductions is being made simpler with the planned integration of automated reporting with IBM Tivoli Green Management.

Consolidated Edison—with more than 3 million customers in New York City and Westchester County, New York--is a pilot member of this initiative working with IBM around energy consumption awareness, co marketing and demand management with a focus on customer measuring and verifying energy reduction through Energy Efficiency Certificates.

"ConEdison wants to encourage reducing energy consumption in the marketplace enabled by new technologies and best practices," said Rebecca Craft, Director of Energy Efficiency Programs, ConEdison. "We are pleased to partner with IBM through their Project Big Green initiative to raise awareness and encourage and motivate client implementation. The ability to accurately monitor and verify the efficiencies gained is especially important as environmental regulations emerge which could have a significant effect on our large and small data center customers. Energy Efficiency Certificates, certified by companies like Neuwing Energy, are a positive initial step to the measurement of complex projects verification of results"

An additional focus area of this initiative is to support the goal of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for common initiatives to promote energy efficiency gains in data centers. "Realizing these efficiency gains will take coordination and collaboration among many stakeholders, the government, the IT industry, data center operators, electric utilities and others," according to a recent report.

Melbourne IT, a leading global IT services company that operates over 2,000 servers on a daily basis, is looking forward to the benefits of Energy Efficiency Certificates.

"We welcome the expansion of IBM's Energy Efficiency Certificate program" said Theo Hnarakis, CEO & Managing Director of Melbourne IT. "Energy efficiency is good for the environment and a key business requirement for us. We recently deployed double the number of new IBM servers for the same amount of power usage and heat signature as previous servers. Energy Efficiency Certificates will help us to officially validate and document our results as part of our Sustainability Strategy."

IBM also sees Energy Efficiency Certificates as a means to satisfy government utility regulator requirements to manage a percentage of electricity demand growth through energy efficiency.

"The initial launch of Project Big Green demonstrated that clients can achieve significant business results from completing energy efficiency projects while addressing urgent operational issues," said Rich Lechner, vice president, Enterprise Systems, IBM. "Over the past year, we’ve found that a one dollar savings in energy costs drives an additional six to eight dollars in operational savings. More and more, clients are committing to ‘green agendas’ and are looking for ways document progress toward the commitment they are making"

IT Carbon Strategy Assessment

IBM is also announcing a new service to help clients, just starting their green transformation, to identify the most rapid areas of reduction in IT carbon emission across the infrastructure, including both the data center and the distributed environment including offices, retail stores, warehouses, etc.

While early momentum has clearly been in the greening of data centers, studies are starting to reveal that in fact there is at least as much emission reduction potential in the distributed environment – in some cases 50 percent or more. As few companies have existing infrastructure that has been built with energy efficiency as part of the design criteria, the IT Carbon Strategy Study provides clients specific recommendations on project priorities with the biggest potential gains. Projects could comprise the network, printers, distributed servers (server closets outside the data center), facilities upgrade (HVAC, UPS, etc) and desktop computers and monitors.

A typical 3-4 week study includes a kick off workshop to agree on overall objectives and targets, data gathering and data analysis leveraging a carbon impact analysis tool to help assess cost benefit analysis. After completing an action oriented workshop, clients are presented with the results in a report including the specific findings and recommendations.

One example of a client that has benefited by early versions of this assessment includes a large UK retailer. Based on the study it re-engineered its end-of-day batch processing system and expects to save 1.68 million kilowatt hours of electricity which means an estimated £120,000 and cutting CO2 emissions by an estimated 1306 metric tons.

Virtual Green Data Center

IBM is also announcing a three dimensional Virtual Green Data Center that allows visitors to learn how to manage and improve their data center energy efficiency. It will demonstrate IBM’s leading green data center technologies covering energy efficiency, virtualization, and resiliency.

As energy costs continue to rise and additional expense control pressures are applied Web 2.0 technologies, like the virtual green data center become increasingly important as a means to increase productivity and control costs. For example, using similar Web 2.0 technologies IBM is able to save $97 million per year in travel costs.

Available on the Green Data Center on the IBM Island in Second Life and staffed 24 hours a day with multi lingual avatars, this new Virtual Green Data Center provides a realistic and immersive experience of IBM’s Roadmap to a Green Data Center. It offers easy access to "inside workings" of a data center in ways not readily duplicated in real life data center visits. It also creates an immersive experience that simplifies the understanding of complex concepts and processes and provides a public, open environment for self-guided tours, individual, or group tours with a trained staff guide.

The Center is available for on demand education and client briefings with sales team with no travel requirements.

About Project Big Green

Since it was originally announced last Spring, IBM’s Project Big Green initiative has helped more that 2,000 clients develop greener data centers with average energy saving of more than 40 percent and increased the utilization of systems by an average two to four times. Additionally, IBM has recycled more than 1.5 billion pounds of IT equipment since 1996. Also, since from 1990 to 2007 IBM has avoided energy-use-CO2 emissions equivalent to 45 percent of the companies 1990 energy use, saving more than $18 million annually, or more than $310 million in total.

Project Big Green is part of IBM strategy to help clients move to a new enterprise data center by focusing on best practices in virtualization, green IT, service management, security and cloud computing and offers dramatic improvements in IT performance, energy efficiency and helps enable rapid deployment of new IT services to support future business growth.

Dominion Virginia Power includes Smart Grids in Energy Conservation Plan

- Carbon dioxide, other emissions to be avoided because of lower energy use
- More than $1 billion in customer savings expected over 15 years
- Planned power stations are still needed, but others in future delayed, eliminated

Dominion Virginia Power presented an aggressive energy conservation plan that would produce significant environmental benefits while providing customers with substantial cost savings.

"This plan will provide a jump-start toward meeting the 10 percent conservation goal enacted last year by the Virginia General Assembly and the governor, getting the Commonwealth more than one-third of the way there within five years," said David A. Heacock, president of Dominion Virginia Power. "It will provide significant environmental benefits in a cost-effective manner that translates into very real financial savings to customers."

A key component of the plan is the installation of "smart grid" technologies that will enhance the electric distribution system to meet the increasing needs and expectations of customers in the 21st Century.

The smart grid will allow energy to be delivered more efficiently and will result in significant energy savings by allowing more precise control of the energy flow. Dominion expects to invest about $600 million and replace all of its existing electric meters with Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), capable of two-way communications, as well as additional equipment to monitor and control the electric distribution system.

The resulting fuel savings for customers will more than offset the cost of the new equipment. The technology also is expected to lead ultimately to improvements in service reliability and the ability of customers to monitor and control their electricity use.

Over the next 15 years the plan is expected to result in customer savings in excess of $1 billion through lower electricity use, avoiding the need for two future power stations and delaying the need for two others.

However, the demand from Dominion Virginia Power customers for reliable, around-the-clock electricity that can be provided only by power stations still exists and is projected to grow by 4,000 megawatts over the next decade. The company is pursuing a balanced mix of new generating facilities, including wind and other renewables, emissions-free nuclear, advanced-technology coal and natural gas. It will also improve transmission and other infrastructure to ensure continuation of reliable service and maintain the growth of Virginia’s economy.

"This is a significant step toward meeting Virginia’s electricity conservation goal in a way that will deliver real and measurable benefits," Heacock said. "We plan to develop additional initiatives aimed at reaching the full 10 percent goal by the 2022 target in a cost-effective manner."

Tantalus And Energate To Further Develop Programmable Communicating Thermostat

The Programmable Communicating Thermostat combines Energate's innovative smart thermostat technology with a versatile user interface, real-time communications and customer signaling to deliver coordinated action to individual homes or groups of homes via TUNet®, the Tantalus Utility Network. The result is an extremely powerful Demand Response solution suite that can be deployed on its own or in conjunction with a conventional TUNet AMI system. A utility can choose between ZigBee or the TUNet 900 MHz LAN for communications with appliances or other load management devices. It is an end-to-end TUNet Demand Response solution for Smart Grid initiatives that include load shedding, load cycling and customer signaling, which is an efficient way to alert consumers when different price levels are in effect and when clean or green energy is on the grid.

"Our mutual goal is to make it easy for utilities and consumers to participate in energy and cost saving, and realize the other benefits of conservation initiatives. The Energate team and their technology is second-to-none in the home energy management industry, and balances the needs of the utility and the consumer," said Dom Geraghty, CEO of Tantalus.

"The Programmable Communicating Thermostat is designed for versatility. It's a highly configurable and customizable solution that enables a utility to implement desired rate structures, load control programs, user messaging and over-ride permissions to whatever degree makes the most sense. It makes it possible for utilities to create programs that truly engage consumers and provides a strong feedback mechanism so that each participant can maximize energy management, in terms of both comfort and results"

"We see this as much more than a smart thermostat," said Niraj Bhargava, CEO of Energate. "It's an essential in-home appliance, an energy gateway that provides a full range of utility load control programs while supporting the needs and wants of consumers. Combining Tantalus' leading edge communications technology with our home energy management solution provides consumers and utilities with a way to cooperate as never before, and have a positive effect on energy usage"

The device features an intuitive console and large LCD panel. With the push of a button, a consumer can opt in or out of a shedding event or cycle down pre-selected appliances such as an air conditioner. Over-the-air programming and firmware upgrade capability allows a utility to easily alter operating parameters via a web application. This includes adjusting price alert levels, adding functionality, moving a customer to a new DR plan, or offering innovative new programs that reflect changing market conditions, individual cost and comfort preferences, and the evolution of Demand Response.

"This is a significant element in our broader energy efficiency initiative, which is being funded by the federal government as part of SDTC (Sustainable Technology Development Canada)," added Geraghty. "We are excited about this opportunity to provide utilities with a comprehensive solution that allows them to closely monitor consumption of electricity, water and gas, pinpoint inefficient energy use and implement programs to help consumers save money and reduce their carbon footprint."

Energate and Tantalus will display the new Programmable Communicating Thermostat at the APPA (American Public Power Association) annual convention and expo in New Orleans on June 23 and 24, 2008.

ERDF And Atos Origin Partner On Smart Meters

ERDF, a subsidiary of EDF and the largest electricity distribution network in the European Union, has launched a major transformation program that will see the replacement of 35 million electricity meters in France, beginning with a pilot trial of 300,000 meters. To help ensure the success of this huge project, ERDF has selected Atos Origin as architect for the information system and lead manager of the consortium of technology firms that will conduct the pilot phase.

New "smart meters" are able to transmit and receive data for remote reading and optimized network management. Installing millions of these new meters is in itself a massive undertaking that will also generate huge volumes of data to be transmitted, stored and processed. The information system to manage this remote metering data constitutes the core of the Automated Meter Management (AMM) system.

"We’re extremely pleased that ERDF has chosen us as both overall integrator for the pilot phase of the project and to build the central information system for this truly extraordinary program," said Philippe Germond, Chief Executive Officer of Atos Origin. "Atos Origin won this contract on the strength of our deep expertise in targeted industry sectors and our ability to integrate, manage and upgrade mission-critical systems over a long-term horizon. This business win is a great example of how we capitalize on expertise and innovation across the group to deliver excellence for our clients."

Arizona Public Service DOMS Goes Live with ABB Network Manager DMS

ABB continues to advance Network Manager Smart Grid technology with APS implementation

ABB announced that Arizona Public Service (APS) is now in production with ABB Network Manager DMS as part of APS' Distribution Operations Management System - or DOMS project.

DOMS is at the center of APS' strategy to transform its distribution operations into a smart distribution grid that improves reliability, efficiency and customer service. DOMS objectives include the replacement of legacy trouble-call management system and paper wall maps with an integrated Distribution Operations and Outage Management System.

The loading conditions of the APS service territory create complex operational challenges that require advanced systems and applications. After an extensive evaluation process, APS selected ABB due in large part to ABB's advanced platform and technology. The cut over into production of DOMS Phase 1 is the first achievement in a strategic APS-ABB alliance to build the next generation distribution management system.

"We are committed to investing in technologies that benefit our customers," said Jan Bennett, APS senior vice president of Energy Delivery. "The implementation of DOMS, along with our ongoing efforts in advanced metering infrastructure, will result in a true smart grid distribution system that will be more efficient, more reliable, and provide better customer service. Our work with ABB is integral to this effort."

APS' rollout of DOMS began in April as the system was deployed in its southeast region. Full implementation of DOMS throughout APS' 35,000-square-mile service territory is expected in early 2009.

DOMS will automate the critical distribution operation functions at APS that have been done manually with the use of wall maps. With ABB Network Manager DMS, the next generation of distribution operators will have the tools necessary to manage the network efficiently and reliably using an electronic network model. The benefits of the new system include:

Improved operational efficiency and customer service Advanced visualization of system conditions for operators and customer service representatives More accurate reporting of outage information and statistics Seamless integration with APS Mobile Data System (MDOMS) and Work Management System Advanced Metering System (AMS) integration to receive outage and restoration notification from smart meters and enable meter pings from the operators and call takers

"We are very proud to be Arizona Public Service's software technology provider as we further extend our lead in the next generation of distribution management system," said Salim Khan, head of ABB's Network Management business unit in North America. "ABB is continuing to evolve its Smart Grid vision by adding smart components to its industry-leading Network Manager DMS platform"

Phase Two of the APS DOMS project will focus on implementation of advanced state-of-the-art switching and control applications that will fundamentally transform the way APS plans, operates and maintains its extensive distribution network.

NYISO: Electricity Markets Offer Platform to Address Future Energy Challenges

The success of the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) in its efforts to "develop efficient competitive markets, maintain the highest standards of reliability, and plan for the future" offers positive prospects for the ability of organized electricity markets to address future energy challenges.

"As we enter a new era of policy making on energy and climate change, the market structures we have created for wholesale electricity can be the platform to further policies such as integrating green and renewable resources, reducing emissions, and moving vehicles from the pump to the plug," said Karen Antion, NYISO Board Chair and interim Chief Executive Officer in testimony to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

Ms. Antion remarks were delivered on July 1 at the FERC Conference, Review of Wholesale Electricity Markets in Washington, DC. The Commission invited senior management and market monitors from the nation’s Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs) and Independent System Operators (ISOs) to provide a review of the current and future state of regional wholesale electricity markets.

"Restructuring in New York has allowed us to maintain system reliability and permit customers to enjoy higher value from existing resources," Ms. Antion stated.

Among the array of positive developments since the inception of the NYISO:

• Improvements in power plant efficiency and availability that facilitated reduced reserve requirements equivalent to "over 1000 megawatts (MW) of generating capacity that consumers did not have to purchase in order to meet reliability standards"
• New investments in the New York markets, including over 6,000 MW of generation and two new merchant transmission lines that can carry 990 MW.
• Non-discriminatory grid access that has encouraged development of renewable resources. Of the over 23,000 MW of proposed generation in the NYISO’s interconnection queue, just under 8,000 MW are wind resources.
• Growth of innovative demand response mechanisms that provide conservation as a reliable alternative to generating more power during peak periods. During summer heat waves in 2006, the NYISO recorded a new peak of almost 34,000 MW on August 2 and its demand response programs delivered the equivalent of 1,000 MW of power that did not have to be produced by power plants.
• Development of a Comprehensive Reliability Planning Process that has effectively met the state’s reliability requirements without having to resort to regulatory backstop solutions.

Ms. Antion noted that grid operators and electricity markets will need to address a variety of challenges in the future, including:

• Integrating sizeable amounts of renewable resources and developing the necessary transmission facilities to deliver output from those assets.
• Increasing fuel diversity while complying with increasingly stringent environmental regulations.
• Fostering interregional initiatives to optimize the flow of power between control areas.
• Examining the competitive market signals and incentives for developing infrastructure, whether transmission, demand response or generation.
• Developing market structures that will be a catalyst for introducing and expanding new technologies such as plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, energy storage, communications, and smart grid technologies.

"It is clear that significant work remains to be done. The good news is that we have made meaningful progress since our inception in 1999 to develop efficient competitive markets, maintain the highest standards of reliability, and plan for the future. We have furthered the competitive agenda formulated by federal and state policy makers," Ms. Antion said.

A copy of the complete testimony is available on the NYISO’s website, www.nyiso.com.
The New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) – www.nyiso.com – is a not-for-profit corporation that began operations in 1999. The NYISO operates New York’s bulk electricity grid, administers the state’s wholesale electricity markets, and performs comprehensive reliability planning for the state’s bulk electricity system.