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IBM Supports 'EcoGrid EU' Renewable Energy Smart Grid Project

By Rajani Baburajan October 17, 2011

IBM announced it has joined a European consortium to support the EcoGrid EU project, which will demonstrate a smart energy grid that will allow smart devices to use renewable electricity based on near real-time pricing and availability.

The proposed energy grid uses at least 50 percent of renewable energy sources, such as wind power, solar energy and biogas. The EcoGrid EU project will be piloted on the Danish island of Bornholm with 2,000 residents and commercial users, representing approximately every tenth house on the island, according to IBM officials.

The consortium of 16 partners from ten different countries will demonstrate the project for the next 48 months. The purpose of the project is to generate consumer interest in smart grids and develop new technologies that will improve energy forecasting and cost balancing, as well as reduce the congestion and losses across the distribution grid.

The project will demonstrate how consumers can schedule the electricity purchase and at what price using smart meters and a Web-based app that runs on smartphones, tablets and PCs. This will include installing smart controllers at participants’ homes to automate select appliances such as dishwashers, heat pumps and electric water heaters as energy prices adjust in five-minute increments savings.

This initiative, according to project scientists, will encourage residents to purchase renewable energy over fossil fuels. The portal will also enable utilities to manage pricing based on supply, demand and available storage capacity.

With 16 partners from ten different countries, the demonstration will continue for the next 48 months with set goals to increase consumer interest in smart grids, and develop new technologies that will improve energy forecasting and cost balancing, as well as reduce the congestion and losses across the distribution grid.

“By taking into account real-time conditions we can increase the use of renewable energy, balance grid load, reduce failures, and accommodate consumer preferences and their desire to reduce energy consumption,” said Guido Bartels, general manager, Energy and Utilities industry at IBM and chairman, Global Smart Grid Federation, in a statement.

Selected participants will begin the testing phase towards the end of next year, officials of the consortium announced.

EcoGrid EU is in support of the European Commission's 20/20/20 plan that propounds to “cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent, increase renewable energy usage by 20 percent and reduce energy consumption through improved efficiencies by 20 percent by the year 2020.”

“EcoGrid EU is an incredibly promising pilot project, in which Bornholm will become a test island in the future intelligent electricity system,” said Lykke Friis, the former Minister for Climate and Energy, Denmark, in a statement. “The results will not only be usable in Denmark and Europe, but all over the world.”

“We need an intelligent electricity system which can integrate more wind power and other renewable energy sources. In order to make the setup work in the future, it is necessary to turn all resources in regional grids into active players, exactly as it will happen in Bornholm,” Friis added.

EcoGrid EU is a continuation of the Electric Vehicles in a Distributed and Integrated Market using Sustainable Energy and Open Network (EDISON) project.

“The EcoGrid EU project combined with lessons learned from EDISON, demonstrates our steady movement towards a sophisticated smart grid that will be capable of managing the future requirements for energy,” Bartels concluded.

IBM is involved in more than 150 smart grid engagements around the world, in both mature and emerging markets. Back in July, IBM announced its collaboration with Korea Electric Power Company (KEPCO), on the building of the Total Operations Center at the Jeju Smart Grid Test-Bed Demonstration Complex.

The center will allow the 160 companies and 11 consortia members operating at the Jeju Complex to collect and manage information on all international markets, and monitor smart grid systems and data exchange, a press release from the company said.


Rajani Baburajan is a contributing editor for IoTevolutionworld. To read more of Rajani's articles, please visit her columnist page.

Edited by Jennifer Russell
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