A solar-powered, low-cost, open source cellular network is revolutionizing coverage in underprivileged and off-grid spots. It uses VoIP yet works with existing cell phones.

The technology starts with open source software, OpenBTS which is built on Linux and distributed via the AGPLv3 license. When used with a software-defined radio such as the Universal Software Radio Peripheral (USRP), it presents a GSM air interface to any standard GSM cell phone, with no modification required of the phone. It uses open source Asterisk VoIP software as the PBX to connect calls, though it can be used with other soft switches.

Research conducted by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory has concluded that Americans are using less energy overall and making more use of renewable energy resources.

Tasmania will spend $1 million to set up NBN4Business, an initiative to educate Tasmanian industry groups on the benefits and opportunities for business that will arise due to the rollout of the National Broadband Network.

BT Redcare a division of BT Group has been granted a three-year contract with IMServ to provide connectivity for smart meters. The contract covers a minimum of 10,000 smart energy meters.

Smart Grid Australia members Elster Metering Pty and Freestyle Technology, architect of the Freestyle Microengine (FME) have announced the worldwide availability of a jointly developed product for Water Utilities: the Elster V200 ZigBee Digital Water Meter which is supported by Freestyle Technology’s Application Platform.

The US Consumer Report published a list of smart devices.

One of these devices is a washing machine. If the machine stops working properly, there is a diagnostic button on the machine that can assist in finding the problem. The customer can dial a service centre and hold the phone next to the button. The washing machine beeps a code and the service centre diagnoses the problem – and maybe even fixes it.

The Ice Bear distributed energy storage system enables an interesting change in how and when energy is consumed for air conditioning.

A group of more than 15 countries has created the International Smart Grid Action Network (ISGAN) to drive global cooperation on smart electric grids. The effort was announced after a meeting hosted by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy, Dr Stephen Chu who also hosted  an industry workshop on electric vehicles.

Google has embarked on a plan to operate datacentres via wind power. It has inked a deal to buy energy from wind-power utility NextEra Energy for the next 20 years which will be used to power a number of datacentres in the USA.

This Reflections paper has been commissioned by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and prepared by KEMA Consulting. While it has drawn on expertise within The Netherlands and offers thoughts for policy consideration by the Ministry, it is set in the context of global developments and offers an international perspective.

Presented by

KEMA Consulting

Lead authors:

John Scott, Peter Vaessen and Frits Verheij

Reviewer:

Pier Nabuurs, CEO KEMA International

The IEEE Standards Association announced a call for participation for the IEEE P1595 Working Group to help develop new standards for quantifying greenhouse gas (GHG) emission credits from small hydro and wind power projects and for grid baseline conditions.

Australian innovators are encouraged to challenge for funding to cement the country’s place at the forefront of addressing climate change. SGA member GE together with  partners have announced a $200 million open innovation challenge that seeks breakthrough ideas to create a smarter, cleaner, more efficient electric grid and to accelerate the adoption of smart grid technologies.

Although the internet accounts for only 2% to 3% of the energy consumed around the world, the rate at which it is growing means this figure is climbing rapidly. Researchers are looking for ways to improve the efficiency of the internet and lessen its environmental impact.

Living PlanIT is planning to build the world's greenest city from scratch at a site in northern Portugal. Establishing its PlanIT Valley development as a working template for a new generation of low carbon cities, ones that combine real environmental sustainability with a quality of life and capable of housing 225,000 people, while producing "negligible" greenhouse gas emissions. The company estimates that it will need to raise $10bn for the project.

PowerMatching City, a living lab smart grid demonstration

Frits Bliek, KEMA, Albert van den Noort, KEMA, Bart Roossien, ECN, René Kamphuis, ECN, Johan
de Wit, HumiQ, Jorgen van der Velde, HumiQ, Marcel Eijgelaar, Essent.