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alan.varghese
I like the concept of the smart electricity grid; with the grid comes the ...
DrQuine
Smart electric meters can help bring time of day rates and informed consumers ...
European smart meter market to boom, says Berg
Peter Clarke
7/26/2010 8:53 AM EDT
LONDON — The installed base of smart electricity meters in Europe will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 17.9 percent between 2009 and 2015 to reach 111.4 million at the end of the period, according to analysis firm Berg Insight.
The smart meters, being pushed by European Union legislation, will provide detailed information about electricity consumption and are intended to give customers knowledge and financial incentives to make energy savings. In addition the smart meters are one of the building blocks for smart electricity grids that can incorporate renewable generation, distribution network optimisation and energy conservation. France, Spain and the UK are the next European countries where smart metering will be introduced, following major rollouts in Italy and the Nordic region, Berg Insight (Gothenburg, Sweden) said.
“In the past year, EDF, Endesa and Iberdrola, three of the largest electricity network operators in Europe, have launched large-scale pilots in France and Spain, respectively. Next year, these deployments will evolve into nationwide rollouts in these countries," said Tobias Ryberg, senior analyst with Berg Insight.
"On top of that, the UK’s largest electricity and gas retailer British Gas has launched the first major smart metering project for residential customers in the country. These developments in combination with rollouts in several other European countries will drive strong market growth over the next five years," he added.
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DrQuine
7/27/2010 9:26 AM EDT
Smart electric meters can help bring time of day rates and informed consumers together to make better use of energy and smooth out the peaks and valleys of demand. As consumers begin contributing power to the grid from their own wind, solar, or vehicle-to-grid power sources, the power grid will become more complex - but also much more robust.
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alan.varghese
7/27/2010 2:40 PM EDT
I like the concept of the smart electricity grid; with the grid comes the ability to incorporate new eco-friendly forms of energy generation, and upgrade transmission and distribution methods.
But smart metering also brings concerns. It's true it will allow consumers more dynamic control of appliance usage, allowing lower energy consumption, and associated emissions.
But smart meter information can also be mined by utility companies in order to hike prices. In addition detailed information is available regarding consumers' life patterns - such as when does the household go to sleep, when are they gone on vacation, is the security system turned on, etc. and this information could get into the wrong hands, and be used for wrong purposes. Countries in Europe and elsewhere are deploying smart meters at breakneck speed, but it's imperative they address these privacy concerns before the train leaves the station.
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