Smart Grids on the Verizon

The European Union recently announced concern that more than 55% of its energy still comes from outside of its jurisdiction. Therefore new legislations have been passed to force large utilities to promote to their customers a more frugal approach to energy usage, backed by massive investment in the renewable sector. The end goal is to reduce the energy reliance outside the EU.

Owing to this, leading energy experts of the NGU EU council (hosted by GDS International) have been summoned to construct a plan to cope with the transformation of the electric grid towards a networked infrastructure. However, this is fraught with several insecurities, as expert’s debate between a smart grid program and the inevitable modernization of existing infrastructure.

‘Verizon’ has been highlighted by the council as illuminating the energy industry, and will be prominent at the NGU EU Summit, in Vienna. Rilck Noel, Vice President (VP) and managing director (MD) of Verizon Business' global energy and utilities practice has been invited to give his thought leadership and will address conference participants on smart grid communications demonstrating Verizon’s leadership in delivering smart grid solutions to its customers.

"As the power industry employs more Internet protocol (IP)-based controls and machine-to-machine communications to monitor and control power generation, transmission and distribution, we can apply our communications expertise to help accelerate the adoption of smart grids" Said Rilck Noel.

The illustrious meeting also includes the respected Joao Torres Chief Executive Officer EDP Distribution and Michael Lewis Managing Director Europe for E-ON and is set to center on the collective role of advanced metering and smart grid technologies, their effect on consumers’ energy consumption, educating them on the importance of interconnectedness, interoperability, and feasibility of use.

“This meeting is essential for us to understand the implications of rolling out an intelligent grid system and help our customers to also understand the significance of smart grid deployment” states Kieran Barkley, the NGU council chair.

It’s no secret that the global energy and utility industry is experiencing extensive transformation. Smart grid conversion places enormous demands on all parts of the utility business. A unified approach across the industry will help aid this process as we look to a greener future.

The Grass is Greener over in MENA

The Middle East and North African Utilities Industry is in a state of growth, global investment has meant that the Middle East is officially out of the recession. Investment banks are increasing their spending within the utilities sector. Maintaining the correct balance between supply and demand has meant large scale investment such as the recent $1.8bn going to the SEC (Saudi Electric Company) and more than $5.4bn is being spent in Dubai to increase their power capacity from 6000MW to 9800MW by the end of 2011.

But how do they plan to spend new investments and meet demand? This is the question on every ones lips at the NGU MENA Summit hosted by GDS international in Abu Dhabi.

“One key factor facing the utilities industry is emphasis on using environmentally sustainable resources and smart technology to reduce the environmental impact.” Said a spokesperson for the illustrious NGU 20 consortium chaired by Mr Fareed Al Yogout, President National Power Company Saudi Arabia and Mr Khalil Issa, CEO Energy Central Company.

The MENA region is already one step ahead in harnessing the power of its abundant sun. Global investment is coming in thick and fast entering the multibillion dollar solar market and the returns so far have been incomparable.

The World Bank plans to invest more than $5.5bn in solar energy projects around the MENA region through there Clean Energy Fund (CTF) in a hope to accelerate the global deployment of PV (Photovoltaic’s) and concentrated solar power generation facilities. With huge production the potential for export revenue is an exciting prospect for investors and one that hasn’t gone unmissed by attendees at the NGU MENA summit.

New technology is also key in the growth of the MENA energy markets. The UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain are close to achieving their collective goal of a joint power grid for all six member states. The grids aim is to supply adequate power even in an emergency situation and to reduce the cost of power generation to all six states.

“Investment into new technology and green energy solutions offer growth potential and a bright future for the MENA region. This is being capitalized on by industry leaders, but a platform to discuss collaborations, concerns and investments is key to move forward” Kieran Crawford - Summit Director

The Middle East region is firmly back on track to become one of the largest and most lucrative energy markets globally and the meeting of some of the leading names in the utilities at the NGU MENA demonstrates this has not gone unnoticed by the industry .

Renewable Energy Solutions Are No Longer Optional But a Necessity

Driven by China's determination to reduce their dependence on coal energy and to look ahead to a more sustainable future, the recent NGU APAC summit (hosted by GDS International) took place this week chaired by Colin Tam - CEO of AEI Asia Ltd who spoke out on the emerging government policy and environmental protection requirements in countries such as China and India.
Renewable energy solutions have attracted $37.3 billion of investment into the Asia and Pacific region in the last 12 months, surpassing even the Americas. So visionaries such as William Tianming Li, VP - Asia Power, Chang Yeol Lee, Head of Distribution- KEPCO, Myung-Key Lee, Manager General, - Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power, Ario Senoaji, VP Alternative/Renewable Energy - PLN and Ashok Sethy, VP - TaTa Power, agreed to attend this week in Sentosa to discuss unified measures to ensure renewable energy solutions for the region.

"Sharing data, Information and experience in our respective countries in developments such as wind power, solar, hydro, biomass and nuclear power is of the highest priority. We must also look at the competiveness of emerging technologies, the drivers for such transformation and finally achieving the probability of success." Colin Tam, CEO of AEI Asia Ltd "we will be exploring the feasibility and probability of this hypothesis based on the current utility industry trend, emerging government policy, and evolving environment protection requirements"

Asia-Pacific's intentions to be world leaders in renewable energy has been Significantly strengthend by the NGU Summit.

Asia Can Help Lead Climate-Change Fight with Green Dollar Spending

As officials meet in Copenhagen to hammer out a new global climate-change policy, the NGU (Next Generations Utilities) Summit was announced in Sentosa early next year by giants Tata Power and Kepco. Alongside fifty other key Utility providers in the region, the meeting - run by GDS International - was called to discuss the impact of the Copenhagen Conference and to discuss Green Dollar spending in the region.

Such large operators are looking at Asia’s innovative companies like Suntech in China who have taken the lead in producing silicon-based photovoltaic cells and wind-power producers like China Longyuan, who had a strong debut on the Hong Kong stock market, raising more than $2 billion in an initial public offering that rose 9.4% on the stock's first day of trading, to learn how to capitalize on the Green Dollar.

“Asia’s clean technology companies are poised to benefit from their large home markets and expertise in low-cost electronic manufacturing. The success of such companies demonstrates that Asia's scientists and technologists are capable of taking the lead in helping the world make the transition to renewable energy resources. We just need to give them the right challenge,” said a spokesman from the NG20 consortium lead by Colin Tam – CEO of AEI Asia Ltd, who is chairing the summit.

Detractors point out that sources of renewable energy such as wind and solar are intermittent: The wind doesn't always blow when you want it to, and the sun doesn't always shine in a particular location, and that initial capital costs for some renewable sources are still expensive. But analysis from Frost & Sullivan clearly shows the demand for Green Technology. Their results show that the Asia Pacific Fuel Cells Markets earned revenues of $142 million in 2008 and estimates this to reach $1.9 billion in 2015.

“100% renewable energy is obviously the target, says Fraser Jameson, NGU Director, but the future will be fraught with many obstacles to achieve this. The NGU Summit in Asia is a clear illustration of the private sectors willingness to adapt.” Such a transition will require a lot of money, time, and energy. No doubt there will be some failures along the way but with a strong goal-directed strategy from the private sector along with an overabundance of scientists and engineers aiming for one goal and with addition market and government backing Asia stands a good chance of leading the world away from its fossil fueled heritage.