February 17, 2010 
 
Defense contractors aren't exactly shooting for the stars. But they are aiming for a greater share of the ever-changing energy business. Their scientific and technical expertise coupled with their well capitalized businesses is giving them an inside track into the world of intelligent utilities, green energy and emissions reductions.

Most of those spacecraft and weapons makers have long had their fingers into energy-related businesses, although they reason that that market is now ready to expand. And while those contractors certainly have the money and brains to make a go of it, they are mindful that a lack of commitment has caused some past forays to remain dormant.

February 12, 2010

Building a business case for smart grid investments is a difficult, if not an impossible, task in the current regulatory and economic environment.

Despite that, many utilities have made the reasonable presumption that efficiencies do exist, though in uncertain amounts, and have forged ahead. Similarly, the federal government, in the form of stimulus grants, has recognized the difficulty and provided funding to jump-start smart grid investments. Future progress, however, will depend on a more clearly defined business case and predictable levels of operational and financial risk associated with smart grid investments.

January 27, 2010

In countries around the world, there is a growing need to move what is expected to be significant amounts of wind, solar and hydro-generated electricity from sparsely populated remote regions to the cities where demand is great.

This has ignited a quest for new high-voltage and ultra-high-voltage transmission systems that can carry more electricity longer distances. And to be sure these systems work properly, there is a growing need for test facilities to evaluate and certify the new transmission products and technologies.

January 22, 2010

Google's ability to gather and disseminate information may now extend beyond the search engine and into the world of electricity. It's not a power grab; rather, it's an attempt to what it says will revolutionize energy technology and in doing so, create cleaner air for all to breathe.

While its desire to expand its presence in the energy realm has been made clear, it has taken another step toward expanding its reach into utility circles: Specifically, it has just asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for the ability to buy and sell electricity so as to manage the high cost of its own data centers.

January 08, 2010

Oncor is building intelligence across its network -- from synchrophasors on its transmission networks to advanced metering on homes and businesses. Mark Carpenter, Oncor's vice president and CIO, noted that the utility's smart grid "is not any one thing, but is essentially spreading intelligent devices throughout the utility system, building a communications network to support these devices, bringing the data back and converting it into useful information."