With its explosive growth, India is caught between the proverbial rock and hard place – an incredible demand for energy and not enough of it to go around. Smart grid initiatives, renewable energy projects and efficiency efforts are all on the horizon. But how long it will take is the issue for this country of 1.1 billion. Don't miss this latest in our series of smart grid playbooks.
With roots dating back centuries, today Con Edison New York owns an aging infrastructure that struggles to handle the power surging through it. The utility has recently embarked on a major substation building effort in addition to its AMI commitment. It was also one of the early recipients of Smart Grid Recovery Act money.
Generally regarded as above average when compared to utility peers in its pace of technology adoption, Arizona's Salt River Project has been investing in technologies for over a decade - even before the term “Smart Grid” became widely used.
Hewlett-Packard's acquisition of EDS in 2008 is providing momentum and promise of future growth in utility outsourcing, metering services and other grid-related initiatives. But nonetheless, it faces powerful competition.
Schneider Electric has set ambitious strategic goals for the next three years, and wants to be champion of the new economies by 2011. Can this energy leader turn its brand into a household name?
The HAN market could be as large as $3 billion annually within the next three years. Salt Lake City-based Control4 has emerged as a leader with its compelling EMS-100 that offers enticements for both consumers and utilities. But the deep-pocketed tech giants won't give up this lucrative space without a fight. Read more about Control4 and its battle plan.
Can a company named for superconductors become a superstar in the wind industry? American Superconductor's power systems division is definitely moving in that direction.
Areva has focused on building strategic partnering relationships, recognizing that utility relationships drive business its way. That may explain why this French company is third in global T&D sales.
Cisco’s deep pockets and a strategy perfected in the ‘90s for buying expertise to round out development suggests Cisco’s status as big gorilla isn’t in danger as it wades deep into the Smart Grid.
Despite its broad product line and technical excellence, GE has largely been regarded as a Smart Grid laggard. That's a perception it is now laboring mightily to change.
IBM has been a leader in grid-related research, working with energy firms and utilities on Smart Grid technology for five years. That seems like a comfortable position to be in as stimulus dollars roll out in the U.S. and elsewhere.
Atlanta-based Southern Company is one of the nation's oldest and largest electricity producers, but is focused on the future with nearly 20 renewable energy R&D projects underway.
California-based Pacific Gas and Electric has what some consider the nation's most ambitious smart metering program and CEO Peter Darbee aggressively promotes the utility’s green stance.
Dallas-based Oncor operates in the highest-growth region in the United States in terms of electric demand. It is making inroads in both the Smart Grid and renewable energy.
New Orleans-based Entergy Entergy has been a leader and innovator in smart energy before it became fashionable. Its service area is particularly vulnerable to the physical risks climate change poses.
Duke Energy is one of the largest electric power companies in the United States. It's charismatic CEO James E. Rogers has been a vocal advocate for the Smart Grid, though he has not always been able to get employees and rate makers to play along. That's changing.
Terry Oliver is the Chief Technology Innovation Officer of the Bonneville Power Administration, where he leads their grid efforts. From his vantage point at the cutting edge, he highlights three emerging issues: intermittency, interaction and immediacy. He also predicts unpleasant surprises for utilities that fail to recognize the growing power of reliability rules and equipment standards.
We're getting mixed signals about the vitality of the smart grid market. On the one hand, the recent DistribuTECH conference was one of the most successful ever. On the other, a well-known Wall Street analyst recently told his clients that the smart metering sector is "facing several headwinds," including weak regulatory support in the U.S. and delays in European adoption. Taking the pulse of the smart grid industry is this week's Tuesday Topic.
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