GE joins with smart grid startup

Engineering giant GE has announced a partnership with smart grid startup Eka Systems to integrate the two companies' technology around wireless metering for utility companies.

The deal, announced on Tuesday, will see GE Energy integrate its I-210+ meter family with the EkaNet Smart Network Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) solution, the companies said in a statement. “Combining the capabilities of GE’s advanced metering solutions with the open and scalable EkaNet AMI infrastructure delivers a new level of performance for utilities looking for robust smart grid networking,” said Chris Irwin, director of products at Eka Systems.

Smart Grid technology is based on the idea that energy use can be tracked in real time to provide customers with more accurate information on the energy they use, which in turn helps utilities to operate their power grids more efficiently.

Interest in the technology has developed significantly over recent years with companies such as GE and IT players such as IBM investing in the area. Last month GE announced the acquisition, for an undisclosed sum, of northern Ireland-based grid-monitoring specialist Kelman Ltd.

In April this year a US study from the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) claimed that energy-efficiency improvements in the US electric power sector could reduce electric consumption by seven to 11 per cent more than currently projected over the next two decades. The EPRI claimed it had identified "numerous opportunities to markedly improve energy efficiency through the use of 'smart' and highly efficient electrical devices".

In May this year, US utility Duke Energy Indiana announced a plan to install more than 800,000 digital smart meters for home and business customers.

However, while some US utilities are seizing the initiative with smart grids, the UK government has been accused of "dithering" over whether or not to mandate the use of smart meters in homes and smaller businesses. The government agreed that smart meters should be installed in large and medium-sized companies but claimed the technology could be costly for consumers to install and more consultation is needed.