grid

Joe Weiss, crusader for critical infrastructure security (Q&A)

When Joe Weiss goes to cybersecurity conferences, he rubs elbows with world dignitaries, law enforcement officials, and large corporations, but usually he's the lone representative from the industrial critical infrastructures.

He's been beating the security drumbeat for the utility industry and the others for at least 10 years, as previously isolated control systems at electrical and nuclear plants, electric substations, oil refineries, and water distribution centers are being modernized with direct connections to other systems and to the public Internet. The introduction of the smart grid is pushing old-school industrial control managers off a technological cliff and increasing … Read more

International Battery expands for utility storage

International Battery, which makes large-format lithium ion batteries for utility-grade energy storage, has raised $35 million in a series C round of funding.

The money comes from existing investor, private equity firm Digital Power Capital, and will be used for expanding manufacturing in Allentown, Penn., according to International Battery.

Many lithium ion battery companies, including A123 Systems and EnerDel, are developing packs for both vehicles and utility-grade storage.

International Battery's technology of large-format lithium ion cells is best suited for stationary uses, such as back-up storage for renewable energy. Its prismatic-shaped cells are about the size of bricks, rather … Read more

Securing the smart grid

Smart meters are arriving at homes and causing a stir. Consumers in California and Texas have complained about higher bills due to smart meters not working properly. And for a second time in about a year, researchers discovered holes in the meters.

It's enough to make one wonder: are these devices going to become a security nightmare, allowing attackers to do everything from vandalize home area networks to cause power outages?

A smattering of utility representatives and experts in the field say consumers shouldn't panic, that security issues at this point are theoretical and the industry is working … Read more

Global metric for data center efficiency adopted

IT professionals are set to benefit from the use of a single metric to measure data center efficiency, after organizations from Europe, Japan, and the U.S. agreed to work together on a global framework.

The agreement, announced Tuesday, was reached by the EU Code of Conduct, the U.S. Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency, and Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, along with the Green Grid--a data center industry consortium that includes heavyweights like Hewlett-Packard, Dell, Intel, and Microsoft.

"The ultimate goal is to create a set of globally accepted metrics for data center … Read more

Solar Pebble could light the way for rural Africans

A solar-charged light might seem like just another green gadget to the average American, but for families in rural Africa, it could prove revolutionary.

Product design consultancy Plus Minus Design is vying to replace unsustainable and potentially dangerous lanterns in the homes of off-grid Africans with the Solar Pebble. Engineered with the economic constraints of developing-world citizens in mind, the Solar Pebble will provide one hour of LED light for every two hours of charge, and will cost only $2.70 to manufacture.

Plus Minus Design, based in Leeds, U.K., was founded by three undergraduate students at the University of Leeds. While studying product design and engineering, Adam Robinson, Henry James, and Tom Eales were given the opportunity to work with SolarAid, a charity in the U.K.

SolarAid, which works to fight poverty and climate change, worked with the students to develop a solar-powered alternative to kerosene lanterns. Those lanterns, commonly used in rural Africa, draw 20 percent of an average Malawian family's income, SolarAid said, and pose respiratory health problems, as well as create fire hazards. … Read more

Cisco investing in smart grid start-up

Cisco is continuing its interest in smart-grid infrastructure and management with an equity investment in GridNet, the smart grid start-up announced Thursday.

The sum of Cisco's investment in GridNet was not disclosed, but the start-up now has another feather in its cap in terms of big-name investors. In addition to the Cisco investment, GridNet's investors now also include GE Energy Financial Services and Intel Capital, as well as several other venture capital firms.

GridNet, which has offices in San Francisco and Sydney, has an array of smart-grid products including two software platforms. One is a smart meter integration … Read more

Coalition enlists consumers in smart grid

Electric power companies and industry groups on Tuesday launched the SmartGrid Consumer Coalition, a nonprofit with the goal of getting consumers involved in managing their energy consumption.

As previously reported, the newly formed coalition is made up of utilities, smart-grid companies, research groups, and one consumer advocacy group. During a press briefing at the DistribuTech utility conference, representatives said members intend to do research on consumer preferences and collaborate on ways to inform consumers about smart-grid technologies.

"We don't think the smart grid is smart until the consumer is actually involved," said Katherine Hamilton, a president of … Read more

Group formed to sell consumers on smart grid

A handful of companies on Tuesday will launch the Smart Grid Consumer Coalition, an effort aimed at promoting the benefits to consumers of modernizing the electricity grid.

The coalition is scheduled to be launched at this week's DistribuTech utility industry conference and will include IBM, General Electric, and home energy management company Control4 among its founding members, according to an invitation sent to the media. Also set to participate is a representative from the Ohio Consumers' Counsel, a state agency which advocates on behalf of retail electricity consumers.

The creation of the Smart Grid Consumer Coalition comes at a … Read more

Intel powers its way inside the smart grid

NEW YORK--Intel wants you to take more interest in your energy use but isn't fussy about how you do it.

The chip giant has developed a broad strategy to make money on smart-grid technologies, touching on everything from high-performance computing to simulate the electricity grid to home energy management systems.

Its efforts have been relatively low-profile because Intel's microprocessors are embedded in other companies' products. But the company is seeing some early activity: it expects to pilot test different types of home energy management devices with partners in the next 30 to 60 days in Oregon, said Lorie … Read more

U.K. leaders are thinking and driving green

An electric powered sports car named "Greenster," got a test drive today in Manchester, England. Juergen Maier, head of industry at Siemens Manchester and Sir Howard Bernstein, Manchester City Council chief executive, took to the streets in a effort to promote Smart Grid.

According to a press release, Siemens is looking into all aspects of "electromobility" including Smart Grid infrastructure. Smart Grid will enable drivers to use more renewable energy as part of an every day source of electricity. With the development of electric cars, Smart Grid technology will also enable drivers to turn our cars … Read more