by Peter Asmus

In the past, the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) has played a remarkably consistent role in commercializing new technologies that provide tremendous social benefits within the larger civilian realm. The Internet, created by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency in 1969, is perhaps the best-known DOD contribution to consumer markets. However, there are a plethora of examples of DOD innovations with widespread commercial appeal and applications. Aircraft technology is another great example. World War I greatly accelerated the production of aircraft, but without the DOD (and the U.S. Postal Service), the domestic aircraft industry would have collapsed shortly thereafter.

As awareness about the electrical grid’s vulnerability to terrorist attacks has increased in the last decade, the U.S. military has become one of the strongest proponents of microgrids. Microgrids offer the ultimate secure power supply for fixed-base military operations. Many Army, Navy, Air Force, and other related bases and offices already have vintage microgrids in place. What is new is that these facilities are looking to envelop entire bases with microgrids and to integrate renewable distributed energy generation (RDEG) on site. These resources, when capable of safe islanding from the surrounding grid, offer the ultimate security since fuel never runs out with solar or wind resources.

In our new report, Military Microgrids, Pike Research has identified roughly two dozen military facilities in the United States that are currently engaged in smart microgrid implementations. The opportunity to help develop these microgrids has attracted a number of powerful technology companies, including Lockheed Martin, General Electric (GE), Honeywell, Boeing, and Eaton. Yet the key to the success of these microgrids is often smaller, innovative firms, such as Encorp, Viridity Energy, and ZBB Energy

While the size of this market is modest today, it is about to explode, with other military agencies in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and France likely to jump in with their own microgrid programs and initiatives.

An even more compelling case can be made for “mobile microgrids,” although these combat mission networks will be extremely small. Recent proposed pull-outs of troops from Afghanistan may take away some of the urgency in rushing deployments to reduce high casualty rates linked to provisions of fossil fuels. Yet “mobile microgrids,” featuring technologies such as solar blankets that can fit into a soldier’s backpack, make them a cutting edge answer to renewable energy networking challenges.

Much smaller in scale than U.S. stationary microgrids, mobile microgrids can be deployed in a day. The transient nature of these systems makes them extremely difficult to forecast. Definitional issues also play a role; many mobile power systems may or may not qualify as true “microgrids,” as there is large grey area distinguishing solar PV or small wind/diesel hybrids from a bona fide microgrid. Total capacity in the average scenario is estimated at a mere 20 MW by 2017. However, these systems will multiply quickly and significantly, especially if the DOD engages in additional missions in the highly volatile Middle East. FOBs on islands not engaged in direct combat also represent promising near-term markets. The forecasting of this segment is remarkably problematic, nevertheless, given the unpredictability of both political forces and terrorist attacks.

Our new report, Military Microgrids: Aggregation Platforms to Secure Mission Critical Loads and Achieve Net Zero Energy, Renewable Energy, and Demand Response Goals, includes this forecast as well as profiles of leading military microgrid players.

Photo by The U.S. Army/flickr/Creative Commons

by Bob Gohn

During Hurricane Irene I found myself outrunning the storm as I drove from Washington, DC to my home north of Boston after delivering my son to college. With more family in New Jersey and New York, including another son living in a NYC evacuation zone, I listened to the news throughout the 10-hour drive home.

A standard feature of the storm coverage was local utilities describing their storm preparation plans. Headed up the coast, we heard comments from PEPCO, BG&E, PECO, PSE&G, ConEdison, Northeast Utilities, NStar, and National Grid. Not surprisingly, none of these touted their smart grid among storm preparation plans. I wondered how these would fare against a very angry Mother Nature.

One promise of the smart grid is reducing the number of “truck rolls” to perform certain tasks, which would presumably translate into fewer trucks and fewer people needed to populate those trucks. This follows a similar trend in the telecom industry, where wireless and broadband advances mean fewer traditional phone lines as well as a lower headcount required to maintain those lines. This is the underlying tension behind the strike by 45,000 Verizon workers, another recent East Coast phenomenon. I saw plenty of “truck rolls” during my race home, in the form of dozens of utility-truck caravans traveling from distant Midwest utilities, getting positioned to help in the looming restoration marathon. It occurred to me that no amount of smart-grid technology was going to replace all those downed poles, reconnect broken transmission lines, or drain flooded substations. People – working long shifts – would be doing that.

So is the smart grid useless during natural disasters? Not at all. Post-Irene discussions with a number of industry contacts indicate that many smart-meter deployments were key to restoration management, specifically individual restoration confirmations, allowing more efficient repair crew dispatch. Even partially commissioned systems were useful. Benefits may be tough to formally quantify, but most seemed pleased with how their systems performed under fire. However, the most common complaint of those who experienced long-term outages–including a couple of my Pike Research colleagues–was a lack of decent estimates as to when their power would be restored. Smart-grid technologies should help with this.

Fortunately, when I arrived home, our power and broadband service was on and stayed on without a glitch. Unfortunately, many family members and industry colleagues did not fare as well, landing among the 7 million or more than lost power during the storm. Interestingly, my unscientific friends-and-family survey indicates most had their electricity restored long before their phone or broadband services–in fact, some are still waiting.

So here’s a nod to the bucket truck brigades and those that support you – may the smart grid make your jobs faster and easier, but may it never be lost that in these times, it’s your head that counts.

by Aaron Colter

Computer giant IBM recently announce the rollout of a smart meter program in Dubuque, Iowa – a town that lies on the border between Wisconsin and Illinois.

Under the program, called “Smarter Energy Cloud,” 1,000 citizens of Dubuque who signed up for the data study, and had smart meters installed, will be able to see their energy use through a website over a six month period and share tips for reducing electricity consumption.

The test program, which began in July, also shares energy information with city officials to help map a community-wide strategy for the smart grid. IBM says the data, which is a monitor of consumption every 15 minutes, will be sent securely and anonymously to the research center, and that individuals will only be able to access their own usage rates.

The issue of data privacy surrounding smart meters seems to be an important topic, as consumers may fear that their electricity usage – and therefore their at-home habits and trends – may fall into the wrong hands. In response, California recently adopted a set of regulations to handle ratepayer’s information.

Photo by Itron

The long rumored acquisition of L+G by Toshiba has finally happened. It appears Bayard Group, the investment group that assembled the current incarnation of L+G from more than five companies, got their price ($2.3 billion) without the originally anticipated IPO, making their investors happy. Perhaps it is fitting that L+G have been picked up by a Japanese company, as this effectively rounds out the regional scope of the U.S. and European components from which L+G was built. So does this make L+G the first truly global smart grid company?

Well, no, not really, but the answer hinges on the definition of “smart grid.” Certainly companies like GE, ABB, Siemens, and even Toshiba itself, would validly claim a long-term global presence in grid infrastructure, including smart technologies. But if the definition includes smart metering, then we might have to say “maybe.” Prior to Bayard assembling the various pieces that become the “new” L+G, metering was largely a regional business. By combining L+G, Cellnet, Hunt, and a number of other firms, L+G became one of the first to seek synergies between regions – specifically North America and Europe – for smart metering. The resulting L+G corporate rationalization was a bit rocky and not without challenges, but it did ultimately result in a single integrated company, even if the smart meter market remains regionally fragmented. The Itron-Actaris merger, and similar moves by Elster, also aimed to create global scale (or at least North and South America + Europe). As part of Toshiba, L+G have the potential to accelerate smart metering growth in Asian markets, while Toshiba may leverage L+G’s relationships in North American markets.

Success here is not automatic. The big prize in Asia, of course, is China. Pike Research estimates that China will consume an average of 30 million smart meters per year over the next three years, almost three times the number in North America. Although Toshiba has a significant presence in China and L+G has made some progress with C&I meters, China has been effectively closed to all but indigenous Chinese meter vendors.

Why is globalization so important for smart meter makers? It comes down to the numbers. Unlike other high-growth high-tech items such as cell phone and PCs, the ultimate installed base of electric meters is relatively static – no need for multiple meters per household or per person. And even if smart meter lifecycles end up being shorter than the simple meters they replace, they are still far longer than other high-tech devices. So the current out-of-cycle upgrades to the electric meter installed base that is driving growth within each region will ultimately be followed by a valley where meter sales may be below the traditional once-every-twenty-years replacement rate. Pike Research has been forecasting a North American peak for 2012-2013, so a declining – though still robust – North American smart meter market is already in sight. Europe is forecasted to pick-up the pace in the second half of the decade, with overlapping and extended growth from Asia. So without a global presence, smart meter vendors will be looking at dividing up a smaller pie.

This trend may be impacting the other anticipated 2010 smart grid IPO that didn’t happen: Silver Spring Networks. Rumored to be seeking a $3 billion valuation, and without L+G’s global exposure (or revenue), the $2.3 billion sales price paid by Toshiba is likely disappointing. An interesting question is whether other Asian giants, such as Fujitsu, LG, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Samsung, and Sony, all of whom likely have some level of interest in Smart Grid technologies, will feel compelled to make a similar move.

In the meantime, we expect that Toshiba will mostly leave the existing L+G structure alone and L+G customers should be comforted by Toshiba’s financial backing. How longer term potential market, regional, or technical synergies work out will be interesting to watch.

Photo by Bert Kaufmann/flickr/Creative Commons

Bob Gohn is an analyst with Pike Research who specializes in the smart grid.

The investment needed to implement a fully functional smart grid in the US ranges from $338 billion to $476 billion and can result in benefits between $1.3 trillion and $2 trillion, according to new figures released by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI).

The broad assessment factors in a wide range of new technologies and applications in determining the costs and benefits of modernizing the U.S. electricity system.

The estimate reflects new technologies related to the grid, information, and communication technologies; market structures; demands of an increasingly digital society; more widespread deployment of renewable power production and its integration into the grid; expansion and maintenance of existing infrastructure; and technologies and systems to address grid security.

The report balances costs with benefits, which include:

- More reliable power delivery and quality, with fewer and briefer outages
- Enhanced cyber security and safety with a grid that monitors itself and detects and responds to security and safety situations
- A more efficient grid, with reduced energy losses and a greater capacity to manage peak demand, lessening the need for new generation
- Environmental and conservation benefits, better support for renewable energy and electric-drive vehicles
- Potentially lower costs for customers through greater pricing choices and access to energy information.

The analysis updates EPRI's 2004 EPRI assessment, which estimated the cost of implementing a smart grid at $165 billion. The updated analysis assumes steady deployment of smart grid technologies beginning in 2010 and continuing through 2030.

Mark McGranaghan, EPRI vice president of Power Delivery and Utilization, says the increased costs of the current analysis reflect a more advanced and expansive vision for the smart grid.

"This cost assessment factors in new technologies and customer benefits that create a more resilient, self-healing and interactive grid that were not available when the 2004 analysis was completed," said McGranaghan. "It can serve as a valuable resource for the industry, policymakers and key stakeholders, first to help us appreciate just how far the state of the art has advanced, and second, to help the industry make prudent investment decisions going forward."

The project team analyzed projected costs over the next 20 years, looking at core smart grid technologies in four areas: transmission, substation, distribution and customer interface. It then subdivided estimates into two segments:

- Investment required to meet load growth and to correct deficiencies--such as power flow bottlenecks and high-fault currents that damage critical equipment--through equipment installation, upgrades and replacement.
- Investment needed to develop and deploy advanced technologies to achieve "smart" functionality of power delivery systems.

The assessment found that deploying a smarter grid will require careful policy formulation, accelerated infrastructure investment, and a greater commitment to public-private research, development and demonstrations to overcome barriers and vulnerabilities.

The report, "Estimating the Costs and Benefits of the Smart Grid - A Preliminary Estimate of the Investment Requirements for a Fully Functioning Smart Grid" is available at the link below.

Photo by Don DeBold/flickr/Creative Commons

Reprinted with permission from Sustainable Business

Government funding has played a key role in launching the microgrid market, especially at the federal government level. Yet there is, at present, few “microgrid” line items in most federal, state or local government budgets. In the Obama Administration’s ARRA stimulus package, there are categories for “customer-owned systems” and even “microgrids,” but these were never funded!

An exception to this generalization about government comes from the military. As microgrids are proven to be both reliable and cost-effective resource options, the federal Department of Defense (DOD) will continue in its historical role as a key early adopter of new technology, as was the case with aviation, electronics, the Internet, and GPS. DOD markets will be driven by “net zero energy” mandates for military bases. The Navy and Marines have the most aggressive goals: 50 percent net zero facilities by 2020. Under the best case scenario, 10 percent to 20 percent of all DOD bases in the United States will deploy microgrids by 2020 according to one reliable military source.

Why is the military so interested in microgrids? Consider these startling facts: In May 2002, a forest fire took out the two feeder distribution lines serving an Army base in the Southwest, resulting in a 16 hour outage, costing $3 million and a loss of critical mission capability. Some DOD sites report loss of power events as many as 300 times per year! The DOD has identified the vulnerability links back to backup diesel generators that are frequently oversized, poorly maintained, are dedicated to only one building or facility, and cannot share power with other buildings. On top of all that, experience has shown a low probability of being able to start immediately when called upon in times of emergency.

One of the most advanced “energy surety” microgrid projects (a concept developed by Sandia Labs) is being developed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. The goal of this prototype is to develop the hardware, software, and controls to perform field testing of microgrids with a subset of buildings that could provide reliable power in islanded mode for a minimum of 30 days. In addition, this microgrid pilot project, expected to total 5 MW in size, is also designed to prove the ability of microgrids to shave peak demand as well as to integrate existing and new renewable energy resources into the generation mix at the military base.

The federal Department of Energy (DOE) is also funding microgrids to the tune of $55 million for eight different projects validating microgrid technologies, though only a few of these – such as California’s Santa Rita Jail (Alameda County) and Beach Cities project (San Diego County) — are bona fide microgrids. The map below highlights the variety of microgrid research and pilot projects receiving some form of federal funding.

The General Services Administration (GSA) serves as a conduit for funding infrastructure for federal facilities throughout the country. Though GSA has no specific budget for microgrids, the agency late last year announced funding for a 25 MW microgrid expected to come on-line in 2016 for the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) new headquarters at the former St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Washington, D.C. GSA has earmarked $215 million in federal funding for this project that incorporates several other federal government buildings. The total price tag is $3.4 billion, showing the value of public/private partnerships. Nevertheless, recent federal budget talks may introduce delays for this showcase project, underscoring risks linked to a sole focus on the federal microgrid opportunity.

Further down the food chain, government support is rare. The only two states investing in microgrids in any substantial way are California and New York. Municipal utilities scattered throughout the country are pushing forward with microgrid-like projects, but political uncertainty can also wreck havoc with these plans at the local level. One of the leading private microgrid developers just had to delay its lead showcase project in the Northeast due to last November’s election results changing priorities at the local government level. At last count, over 25 different microgrids under development by this same single developer have been canceled, some with signed power purchase agreements in hand!

Despite these perils, large players such as GE, Lockheed Martin, Honeywell, and Eaton are now active in the government microgrid opportunity, but mostly at the federal level. In order for microgrids to offer a truly compelling alternative to the top-down smart grid programs being pushed by investor-owned utilities, these monopolies must too play a role. To date, only a handful (San Diego Gas & Electric and American Electric Power being the best examples) see the light. Rather than viewing microgrids as a threat, they see them serving as valuable demand response resources and complementary to efforts to integrate better storage options into our grids.

Smart, investor-owned utilities will offer a wide range of smart grid options, including distributed microgrid networks.

Photo by Rosa y Dani/flickr/Creative Commons

Peter Asmus is an analyst at Pike Research specializing in renewable energy.

Yet in the San Francisco Bay Area — and in particular in my Marin County home — citizens are up in arms, blockading trucks and opposing mandatory installation of smart meters. These opponents have been bolstered by three major developments all occurring within the last week or so, so it is safe to say they are not going to go away quietly:

- On January 4, the Marin Board of Supervisors passed an emergency ordinance that effectively creates a one-year moratorium on smart meter installations by Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) in unincorporated Marin (which includes my West Marin in Stinson Beach).

- On January 7, smart meter opponents from Marin County touted a new study carried out by consulting firm Sage and Associates that finds that associated health impacts with wireless smart meters may include neurological symptoms such as headache, sleep disruption, restlessness, tremors, cognitive impairment, and tinnitus, as well as increased cancer risk and heart problems.

- On January 10, a hearing hosted by the federal Department of Justice in San Francisco was held to gather comments on whether the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) should be revised to add issues surrounding alleged functional impairment generated by wireless devices to the existing hearing, speech and vision disability considerations governed by this law.

Has California gone nuts? That’s a topic always open to debate. But before advocates of the smart grid dismiss such developments as utter nonsense and just the latest Luddite craze, there really is a more intelligent response. As business guru and “systems theory” MIT professor Peter Senge might say, crisis breeds opportunity, and the sooner industry starts addressing these consumer concerns, the better for all involved. If Europe can shift to a smarter grid without complete reliance on wireless technology, why can’t we?

Let’s just say 1 percent of the total population can link maladies to wireless smart meters. Is it really fair to subject these poor individuals to ubiquitous wireless radiation in all of our cafes, hotels and even their homes – without any choice? If there wasn’t so much money on the table, the rational answer would be no.

But there are other alternatives. Just ask Echelon, which is deploying its smart grid technology over wires with Duke Power, and is looking for its own little pot of gold at the end of the smart grid rainbow. The uproar over wireless smart meters could provide an opening for it and other like-minded businesses offering smart grid alternatives.

The fact is the science is still incomplete. Cell phones are increasingly being linked to brain tumors and other health problems. According to critics, wireless pulses from smart meters radiate 2-15 times per minute, 24 hours a day and are approximately 2-3 times the intensity of a cell phone. I am not a scientist, so cannot substantiate or refute these claims. There is a major drop-off in radiation with increased distance, so even if true, most residents may still be quite safe with wireless smart meters, depending upon the exact location of these devices near homes.

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has a schizophrenic response to this dilemma. On one hand, it has refused to stop smart meter installations; on the other, it has ordered an investigation into the health impacts of these same smart meters. Interestingly enough, 2000 state ratepayers have filed health complaints regarding smart meters to the CPUC to date, and that number is likely to grow over time.

“The CPUC could easily resolve this contentious situation by offering a broad wired opt-out alternative,” said Barry Smith, Co-Director of the Point Reyes based West Marin Community Coalition for Environmental Health. “Why are they in such a hurry? If this technology is safe and their goal is to reach out to the customer and listen to their concerns, then why are they trying to install smart meters as fast as possible in Central and West Marin County?”

Smith’s comments actually sound logical. That’s bad news for unabashed fans of wireless technology. There is no easy answer. But sticking our heads in the sand has never been good for business in the long run. It is time for some genuine scientists – not linked to either the “pro” or the “con” camp — to weigh in. Diversity is always a good hedge, and no business model – including the smart grid – is immune from that basic risk mitigation strategy.

Photo by The U.S. Army/flickr/Creative Commons

Peter Asmus is an analyst at Pike Research specializing in renewable energy.

A much smaller, but related story is sure to get overlooked. Verizon is also launching a new service (in select markets) that will allow customers to control smart appliances, thermostats and lights--among other devices--with their smart phones.

The Home Monitoring and Control pilot program offers a glimpse of how smart homes are likely to be linked and controlled with mobile devices--as Verizon and its competitor's move into this space.

Beginning in January, the pilot program will be conducted in New Jersey. The homes selected for the program will be outfitted with an energy reader, smart appliance switches and thermostats, a smart power strip, a smart door and window locks, motion sensors, an advanced pan-and-tilt camera, and a fixed indoor and outdoor camera.

"What we'll be testing in these homes is just the beginning," said Eric Bruno, vice president of product management for Verizon. "We're giving customers a remote control for their homes that they can use to cut CO2 emissions and their energy bills and give them anytime, anywhere access and control of their homes. The concept of the connected home has been discussed for many years, and now Verizon's high-IQ networks are making that concept a reality by converting customers' homes into bandwidth-rich ecosystems that enable a wide variety of customizable options."

Verizon showcased the new service at the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, from Jan. 6-9.

Photo by Yeray Hedez Guerra/flickr/Creative Commons

Reprinted with permission from Sustainable Business

You may have heard that New Jersey is one of the leading states on solar power. Now it has a chance to lead on home energy management systems as well, as Verizon has announced a pilot program for its new home energy management system that will debut in exclusively in the Garden State, starting in January.

According to the company, its Home Monitoring and Control service will allow home owners to access to lights, thermostats, appliances and monitoring systems at home, anytime and anywhere, via smartphone, computer or FiOS TV. Starting in the New Year, New Jersey homes selected for the program will receive an energy reader, smart appliance switches and thermostats, a smart power strip, a smart door and window locks, motion sensors, an advanced pan-and-tilt camera, and a fixed indoor and outdoor camera–the kind of gear we can expect to see more of as the dream of the futuristic ”smart home” becomes a reality.

Eric Bruno, vice president of product management for Verizon, sees this service as a way for customers to cut their bills and their energy footprint at home by remote control. ”The concept of the connected home has been discussed for many years, and now Verizon’s high-IQ networks are making that concept a reality by converting customers’ homes into bandwidth-rich ecosystems that enable a wide variety of customizable options,” he said, in a statement.

For those who live outside New Jersey, Verizon will debut its new Home Monitoring and Control service at the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Jan. 6-9.

Reprinted with permission from EarthTechling

This is the first of several planned funding rounds aimed at accelerating the development and deployment of power grid technology through open collaboration.

GE has formed and accelerated a dozen new partnerships to date with entrants to develop and commercialize technologies vital to helping build the next-generation power grid. These technologies include energy storage, utility security, energy management software and electric vehicle charging services. GE said it expects these markets to grow rapidly into a $20 billion opportunity by 2015.

Twelve concepts have been selected for partnerships and GE is negotiating investments and other commercial agreements with the companies and academic partners listed below, including two co-investments with venture capital partners.

ClimateWell, Stockholm, Sweden (Efficient Appliances)

ClimateWell’s energy-efficient cooling and heating systems run on solar-powered hot water rather than electricity, maximizing energy efficiency. This technology translates into a significant reduction of power consumption and carbon emissions. While initially targeting operations like hospitals or commercial buildings, GE is working with ClimateWell on deploying this technology in additional markets already served through GE’s appliances business.

Consert, Raleigh, NC (Energy Management Systems and Software)

Consert’s demand side energy management solution empowers utilities, municipalities and co-ops to manage load curtailment, increase operations efficiency and act as a virtual power plant. Consert’s technology complements GE Digital Energy’s existing solutions to meet the unique needs of these market segments.

FMC-Tech, Ltd., Shannon, Ireland (Intelligent Sensor Technologies)

The power line monitoring system for medium voltage networks serves as a nervous system for the smart grid and has applications for GE’s Smart Grid Delivery Optimization. It integrates overhead line sensing, data storage, and wireless communication to a local controller to detect and locate faults in the smart grid and manage distribution communications, providing a platform for the present and future needs of the network.

The Fu Foundation School for Engineering and Applied Science, Columbia University, New York, NY (EV Charging Stations)

A new collaboration with GE, Columbia Engineering, FedEx Express (NYSE: FDX), and Con Edison (NYSE: ED) to enable the conversion from hydrocarbon to electric delivery vehicles in New York City. Columbia Engineering’s technology, developed by its Center for Computational Learning Systems, manages load and delivery and links electrical vehicle charging stations to the utility’s electric distribution management system in real-time. FedEx is providing and operating the all-electric vehicles that the collaborative team will study. In addition to providing funding, GE will supply expertise from its Digital Energy division and GE’s Global Research Center to support this program.

JouleX, Atlanta, GA (Energy Management Systems and Software)

JouleX provides a single, network-based, energy-management solution. The JouleX Energy Manager monitors, analyzes and automatically adjusts the energy usage of a network’s connected devices and systems. It has the potential to reduce energy consumption by 30 to 60 percent. It will enhance GE’s data center solutions to help customers reduce energy consumption in the data center. In addition, the technology will enhance Demand Response Management System capabilities in GE’s Digital Energy business.

OPOWER, Arlington, VA (Energy Management Systems and Software)

OPOWER integrates consumer demographics, energy consumption data and behavioral analytics to encourage households to make intelligent choices around power consumption in their homes. The average user reduces consumption by about 2.5 percent per month, helping to deliver savings. With GE’s global work in Smart Metering and Automatic Metering Infrastructures, OPOWER can help utilities secure buy-in from consumers and public utility commissions.

Scientific Conservation, San Francisco, CA (Energy Management Systems and Software)

This platform monitors and manages energy drift in commercial buildings through predictive maintenance of core energy systems: heating, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration, lighting, controls and renewable sources. Using its patent pending diagnostics, it typically improves efficiency covering the cost of installation in less than two years. The technology has applications for GE’s Intelligent Platforms building management software business and provides conservation opportunities for GE’s real estate portfolio and GE buildings.

SecureRF Corporation, Westport, CT (Utility Security)

SecureRF provides security solutions that address lower-powered embedded devices that will be used throughout the Smart Grid. Its Algebraic Eraser is a public-key cryptography method designed for resource-constrained devices like meters and sensors. GE’s Digital Energy business can draw on this security technology for the smart grid to help utility customers alleviate consumer privacy and data security concerns.

Sentient Energy, Burlingame, CA (Intelligent Sensor Technologies)

Sentient develops advanced grid monitoring solutions that consist of modular intelligent monitoring devices and software applications, enabling cost-effective distribution automation. It improves fault location, cause analysis and remediation, grid capacity management, and utility workforce utilization, presenting integration and partnership opportunities for GE Energy’s Digital Energy offerings.

Soladigm, Milpitas, CA (Building Efficiency)

This window technology electronically switches glass from clear to tinted, enabling control of heat and glare. It can reduce energy usage for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems by 25 percent and reduce the HVAC peak load by 30 percent, an important tool to level demand for the future smart grid infrastructure. With GE’s green homes and green hospitals ecomagination programs, its zero energy home program and other energy efficiency initiatives, there are multiple paths for commercial relationships with the technology.

SustainX, West Lebanon, NH (Energy Storage)

This technology provides isothermal, compressed-air energy storage technology to enable cost effective, grid-scale energy storage. SustainX’s approach has the potential to be less than half the cost of traditional compressed-air energy storage. The technology presents opportunities for collaboration with GE’s Global Research Center and commercial partnership opportunities with GE Energy to commercialize energy storage applications and to enable a higher percentage of renewable power generation in markets like Europe.

SynapSense Corporation, Folsom, CA (Data Center Services)

Using a robust wireless sensor network, SynapSense’s solutions measure and manage the environmental conditions and power usage throughout data centers, resulting in a 10 percent reduction in overall energy consumption for typical, enterprise-class data centers. The technology offers commercial relationship opportunities with GE’s Digital Energy business and its Intelligent Platforms business with its visualization and energy management offerings.

One of the largest initiatives of its kind, the 10-week Challenge attracted 70,000 technologists, students, entrepreneurs and start-ups submitting their best ideas to build the next-generation power grid. The open innovation platform generated nearly 4,000 entries from more than 150 countries. The business evaluation process by GE and its venture capital partners RockPort Capital, Foundation Capital, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and Emerald Technology Ventures continues, but the $55 million represents a significant portion of the investment just over four months after the Challenge officially opened.

Proposals were sought in three categories: Renewables, Grid and Eco Homes/Eco Buildings. Candidates for investments and commercial relationships with GE were evaluated by a committee of representatives of GE businesses and the challenge partner firms.

Photo by quapan/flickr/Creative Commons

Reprinted with permission from Sustainable Business