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Echelon Adds Features to Smart Grid InfrastructureSep 16, 2009 (Close-Up Media via COMTEX) -- Echelon announced new products and a series of enhancements to its Networked Energy Services (NES) System, a smart grid platform used by utilities worldwide. The NES metering infrastructure consists of a family of electronic electricity meters accessed via a Web services based network operating system over an IP networking infrastructure. Much more than a simple AMI system focused on billing related services, the NES System provides utilities with a wealth of information about the status, operation and health of the grid that enables them to reduce operating costs while increasing service quality. According to Erik Nordgren, head of Vattenfall Distribution Nordic's AMR Project, "Our NES System implementation is successful by all metrics, and system operation and performance have been great. We reviewed multiple systems based on a number of technologies; the NES System has consistently delivered the highest performance." Additional features cover hardware and software products across the NES System including: - Software o New NES Element Manager, networking software designed to reduce the lifecycle costs and help with the installing, maintaining, and managing smart grid deployments. o Increased scalability to support millions of meters with daily data collection in NES System Software 4. - Data Concentrators o Automation software that speeds the management of low voltage distribution networks. o New Ethernet interface to any IP-based WAN whether wired or wireless. - Smart Meters o IP enabled meters that combine the functionality of an NES Smart Meter and NES Data Concentrator. o ANSI residential meters with enhanced power quality and load profiling capability. - Ecosystem o Expanded the NES Developers Program to include Meter Accessory solutions for in-premise devices or network extensions, e.g., monitoring heat or gas meters, in-home display. o WAN Card Development Program for wide-area network integration with new NES Smart IP Meters to the NES Developers Program. "With the new products and updates across the entire NES product line, we believe we are enabling utilities to build an energy network, not only a smart metering network," said Ken Oshman, Echelon's Chairman and CEO. "We are continuing to invest in smart grid infrastructure to offer utilities a solution that will last years into the future and meet their changing needs." ((Comments on this story may be sent to [email protected])) |