IBM yesterday revealed the results of its smart grid pilot project that incorporates electricity monitoring devices, along with modernized instrumentation technology, to increase energy and grid efficiency. The six month pilot, which took place in Fayetville, North Carolina, was a joint effort between Big Blue, Consert a Raleigh, N.C.-based intelligent energy distribution and management network provider), and the Fayetteville Public Works Commission (FPWC).
Over 100 commercial and residential customers participated in the pilot which involved the installation and use of Consert’s energy-monitoring software along with smart meter and software applications technology based on IBM’s DB2, WebSphere and Tivoli. Participants were able to set daily use profiles, check energy consumption in real-time from an Internet connection, select monthly target bill amounts, and authorize FPWC to cycle their appliances off during peak energy consumption periods; a key element in increasing grid efficiency and reducing demand during peak periods. Also, many of these user-controlled settings can be done using a PDA or Smartphone.
The goal of providing all this information and offering more control of electrical usage is to get individuals and businesses to literally see what their energy usage and daily habits entail; thereby enabling them to make the appropriate changes or settings to better manage their energy usage. With this pilot program, IBM and Consert were able to highlight the energy used by what are known as “ghost” devices such as air conditioners, water heaters, and other devices that are using electricity even when no one is around.
Overall, the pilot demonstrated that total power usage was down by more than 15% across the board using the smart grid technology. Some participating households saw a reduction in energy consumption as high as 40 percent. The program proves what several other studies have already shown regarding a direct correlation between energy usage feedback and user habits/decision making.
With the success of this project under its belt, IBM is taking it to the next level by unveiling a new project to turn Dubuque, Iowa into its “Smarter Planet” initiative centerpiece. The project will involve the entire city of 60,000 and aims to demonstrate a sizable reduction in energy usage and environmental impact through the use of IBM’s smart grid technologies and monitoring solutions. After all, knowledge is power…or power reduction in this case.
The Good: A demonstrated improvement in energy consumption reduction using smart grid technologies.
The Bad: Still in testing phase. Has only been applied to relatively small scale populations. Given the number of different utility companies, it’s unclear whether there will be a wide spread adoption and standardization of smart grid technologies.
The Bottom-Line: As the country’s 100+ year old electrical infrastructure continues to face increasing demand and challenges, smart grid technology like IBM’s will be a necessary advancement to not only keep the juice flowing, but to allow for a more efficient electrical grid and environmentally friendlier energy sources.
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