The "Smart Grid"

[TEG]

Back in 2001:
Wired 9.07: The Energy Web

[doug]

NPR has a pretty good 10 part series this week on the nation's power grid. Several segments are on the "Smart Grid" but also green power generation as well.
Links to all segments of the series here:
Power Hungry: Reinventing The U.S. Electric Grid : NPR

[TEG]

[doug]

Cisco enters smart grid technology field - SFGate.com

Cisco Systems will announce today a broad strategy aimed at using its routers and switches to improve existing energy networks that are often fragmented and slow to respond to real-time needs and outages. By installing Cisco gear, from the utilities down to a consumer's home, the company believes it can better monitor electricity needs, optimize power delivery, reduce consumption and ultimately benefit the environment.

[TEG]

• Cisco Smart Grid Solutions - Industry Solutions - Cisco Systems
• Cisco: Smart grid will eclipse size of Internet | Green Tech - CNET News
• Cisco Outlines Strategy for Highly Secure, 'Smart Grid' Infrastructure
• Cisco's Latest Consumer Play: The Smart Grid - BusinessWeek

Now that Cisco is involved, I supposed it is a good time to mention that Sun's Grid computing is something else altogether. Little bit of name confusion brewing between GE/Cisco/Google "Smart {power} Grid" and Sun's "Grid" / "Cloud" computing.
(Thankfully it looks like the term "cloud computing" is replacing "grid computing" for those "rent CPU cycles" offerings)

[doug]

Steep Learning Curve: Smart Grid 101 Can Be Difficult

[TEG]

This is back from March, but related:

What is a Smart Grid? - Obama, Stimulus and Fixing our Energy Infrastructure - Popular Mechanics

[malcolm]

Critics slam New Zealand's "dumb" smart meters - 30 Jun 2009 - BusinessGreen.com

Power companies are in the process of replacing 800,000 outdated household electricity meters with newer models that would enable utility firms to obtain meter readings remotely. However, as there are no guidelines for the standard of the meters, different companies are installing varying types.
In a report presented to New Zealand parliament last week, Wright said that many of the new meters lacked basic real-time monitoring functions that would provide consumers with an incentive to curb energy use at peak times.
The devices also lack a microchip that would enable meters to "talk" to smart appliances, which are not yet available in the country.

[TEG]

Big Blue and Electric Mobility

[TEG]

Green Car Congress: AeroVironment Awarded Patent for Electric Vehicle Energy Data Management and Control; Web-based System Solution for EV Battery Optimization