Cisco Systems kicked off a closely watched smart grid trial in Germany on Monday with broad implications for the industry – particularly in Europe.
Cisco's German smart grid trial is the company's fourth publicly announced test
The company, in partnership with German utility Yello Strom, will connect 70 homes and businesses to the electrical infrastructure using an IP network. Building owners will be able to measure the power consumption of their appliances and set use during periods of off-peak power.
Power use will be updated every 15 minutes.
The trial, announced two weeks ago, is Cisco’s fourth publicly announced test. (Other pilots are being conducted with utilities in private.) Like the trial Cisco began in Austin, TX, last year, it appears to be using broadband Internet connections instead of power lines networks, which are typically favored for pilots in Europe. U.S. utilities opt for Internet connections.
Cisco also has trials in Amsterdam and Miami.
The cross-grain approach will likely make the trial closely watched – and points to the unsettled nature of smart grid standards. It also serves as a reminder of the potential profits at stake.
By some estimates, the smart grid market is a $20 billion opportunity for companies selling products and services. Being in the right place with the right technology could be a real advantage.
The newly launched trial isn’t the first smart grid effort for Yello. The utility, with 1.4 million customers, has offered smart meters since 2008. According to a press release, the Yello “Sparzaehler” an online smart electricity meter will be part of the Cisco pilot as well, letting customers receive information about their consumption.
Cisco said the German pilot is a step toward broader smart grid deployment in central Europe. With smart grids gaining steam and standards still in flux, the decision to be in as many trials are possible is probably a good one.
Jean-Baptiste Su
Mark Boslet
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