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Thursday, 07 May 2009 00:17
Trilliant announced on May 6 that it will be providing a smart meter system to ESB Networks, the national power distribution network within the Republic of Ireland. The project will help Ireland become compliant with EU Directive EC 2006/32.The directive requires that EU Member States both increase energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gases by 20 percent and increase the amount of renewable energy to 20 percent of the total energy supply – all by the year 2020.
Trilliant is a pioneer in developing networking technology for power transmission and distribution. Solutions from the company include a combination of hardware, software, and services that make up the backbone of a smart power grid. Since the company’s inception in 1985, the focus has been on applying modern technology to an antiquated power grid by developing advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), analysis tools for utility companies, and other grid management applications.
“We look forward to bringing our smart grid expertise to bear for ESB and the citizens of Ireland,” said Andy White, president and chief executive officer of Trilliant. “Creating the metering infrastructure and communication network is the first and most important step in helping the EU achieve their 2020 objectives.”
Trilliant will be installing its SecureMesh smart grid solution for ESB Networks. SecureMesh provides secure communications using standard protocols to provide a highly scale and robust solution. SecureMesh shares information both ways between consumer and utility and demonstrates the power of a true smart grid. Field crews are able to access the system through private WiFi secure connections.
smart meter functionality including time of use information, data collection at regular intervals, and collection and processing of smart metering signals that provide insight into the health of the distribution grid will all be initially supported.
Energy Minister Eamon Ryan announced Ireland’s intentions to move forward with a nationwide smart meter plan in October of last year. Ryan said the goal is to have a smart meter installed in every home within four to five years.
“We acknowledge that smart meters are the wave of the future. I suppose the question comes down to not whether we take up smart metering, but when will we take it up?” said Cathy Mannion, director of Electricity Networks and Retail Division at the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), at the time of the 2008 announcement.
Smart meters and the supporting software will create visibility into the power grid that was previously impossible. Consumers will become aware of their energy consumption habits and other technologies, such as time of use pricing, can be introduced in the future.
Trilliant’s usage of technologies that build upon internationally accepted standards for wired and wireless networks allows for easy implementation. To date the company has shipped more than a million smart meters. Trilliant has developed relationships with giants in the energy industry including GE and other smart meter manufacturers such as Itron, Landis+Gyr, and Sensus. Trilliant’s communications hardware is often installed in the smart meters made by these companies.
Trilliant Incorporated
1100 Island Drive
Redwood City, CA 94065
http://www.trilliantinc.com
General Electric
3135 Easton Turnpike
Fairfield, CT 06828
http://www.ge.com
Itron
2111 N Molter Road
Liberty Lake, Washington 99019
United States
http://www.itron.com
Landis+Gyr AG
Feldstrasse 1
CH-6301 Zug
http://www.landisgyr.com
Sensus Metering Systems
8601 Six Forks Road – Suite 300
Raleigh, NC 27615
http://www.sensus.com
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