The Grid Ate Me

mumbo-jumbo

I recently amused myself with OSIsoft PI and was flat-out surprised at how it can be used to crank up the value of metering data. Although OSIsoft PI does not perform the traditional MDM VEE functions, the value-added functionality that PI ACE provides can be translated into various Smart Grid applications. These applications can be developed as generic PI ACE modules that are re-hashed as a set of instructions implemented in VB6 or VB.NET class. Below is my take on a handful of applications that can rudiment from the creation of “Smart Grid” ACE modules.

Accenture predicts the dates of the tipping points for 10 key smart grid technologies. Those technologies include residential smart meters, HAN-enabled home energy management, smart appliances, EVs and more. The company anticipates that the tipping point for the smart grid overall will occur within 10-15 years.

Worldwide smart meter installations as of today//

Power to The Negawatt

The ubiquitous presence of RF in our daily lives: Power density in microwatts per square cm (µW/cm²)

These results are findings from EPRI’s hard work »> not fringe public opinion. Take that you pseudo-scientific naysayers / nimbyists of smart meters.

Green Beats

Fancy these eco speakers from Merkury. They are free of power cords / fold completely flat / made from 80% recyclable wrappers.

What Was Found in The Fog

I have to be honest that I am quite sluggish at discovering the latest material that hits the market. A few days ago a colleague introduced me to a COTS appliance signature solution. It made me step right up, pay attention and enjoy the rather auspicious moment.

The Irish company called Veutility is now offering an appliance signature solution that enables a user to have a realtime view of their appliance’s energy consumption using only a smart meter (no sub meters). I have to stress: NO sub meters and the best thing I have heard of vis-à-vis all the talk about the value that stems out of smart metering.

By using a single plug and play sensor, the technology identifies the energy consumption of a home appliance by mapping its unique electricity consumption signature. It identifies and files the appliance-level profile signatures then monitors and reports on various appliances simultaneously via its own dashboard. 

This is momentous! I will have to give this a test drive. And if it truly delivers on what it promises, the possibilities for smart meter > HAN integration are endless (at a fraction of the cost of what similar functionality would cost). Watch this space…