In the 3rd part of the “Countries across the world embracing Smart Grid” series we have covered key European countries France, Spain, and Malta.
France : EDF Group which manages 128 GW of power across Europe is leading the Smart grid development in France through its wholly owned subsidiary Electricité Réseau Distribution France (ERDF). ERDF started its Smart Grid initiative in 2008 when it awarded the Smart Grid pilot project to Atos Origin to implement computer network and lead the consortium of technology company for implementing Automated Meter Management (AMM) systems. The pilot phase will implement 300,000 smart meter and 6,000 concentrators in two geographic regions namely the Indre-et-Loire department and the Lyon urban region for which the implementation has begun in March 2010. Along with Atos Origin, other companies like Elster, Actaris, Landis+Gyr, Iskraemeco and institute like EPRI (Electric Power Research Institute) are collaborating with ERDF . Eventually, the ERDF aims to replace a total of 35 million plus Smart Meter across the France. The Group of Electricity Distributors (GALED) is a consortium of four local electricity distributors companies, namely, GAZELEC, Régie d’électricité de Loos, Energies et services de Creutzwald and, Energies et services de Lavaur, which in 2008 started implementation of intelligent metering systems for 90,000 homes. GALED has partnered with Echelon and Altos for its Smart metering initiative that it plans to complete by 2013. French government has earmarked €1.3 billion for “Renewable energy and Green chemistry demonstration” projects that will be given as subsidy and loans in next four years. Out of the €1.3 billion, €250 million ($320.5 million) will be given to Smart Grid demonstration projects.
Spain : Iberdrola is one of the world’s largest utility company and leading energy group in Spain. It launched STAR(Network Remote Management and Automation Systems ) project to transform its entire electric grid with Smart Grid in Spain. During the pilot phase, which started in June 2010 and is planned to be finished by the end of the year, it plans to roll out 100,000 smart meters and 583 operational transformation stations to the city of Castellón. After the completion of the project, Castellón will possibly become the first Smart Grid city in Spain. For this, The Iberdrola is using PRIME (PoweRline Intelligent Metering Evolution) telecommunication protocol developed by the PRIME ALLIANCE for metering communication. Itron, and Ormazabal are the primary companies that will provide Smart Grid Infrastructure for the pilot phase . Endesa, the largest utility of Spain, was the first to start Smart Grid initiative in Spain back in 2009. Taking cue from its parent company Enel (Italian utility company) and the SmartGrid City Boulder, USA, It launched SmartCity project for the Malaga City in June 2009. The objective of SmartCity project is to demonstrate new energy management model through Smart Grid technology, renewable energy, and other eco-friendly processes. It is leading the consortium of 11 companies (includes IBM, Televent, GreenPower, Enel) and 14 research organizations (includes CeDInt, IREC, F2I2, aicia, La Salle). The four year demonstration project involves 300 industrial customers, 900 service providers, and 11,000 households.The SmartCity project is part of the EU’s 20-20-20 plan, which is to meet objectives for 2020 of improving energy efficiency by 20 %, increase contribution of renewable energy sources in energy mix by 20 %, and reduce CO2 by 20 %. The project is financed by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and backed by Andalucía provincial government and Center for Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI). The company is also involved in other European and Spanish Smart Grid initiatives like ELVIRE (Electric Vehicle Communication to Infrastructure, Road Services and Electricity Supply), G4V(Grids for Vehicle), MOVELE (electric mobility plan), DE22@, and REVE.
Malta :The island nation located between Italy and Tunisia is all set to become world’s first Smart Grid country (benefits of being small). The Maltese utility companies Enemalta Corp. and Water Services Corp . along with the IBM, and Enel are rolling out Smart Grid Infrastructure in the island nation. The 400,000 population of the island nation is depended on energy for its fresh water needs. The depleting groundwater and saltwater penetration in the aquifers will force the country to depend more and more on desalination plants (consumes high energy) for its daily fresh water needs. The Water services corp., which operates the desalination plants in the country, reports that 75% cost is related to energy for generating fresh water. The Smart Grid project will improve the energy efficiency (by reducing losses in desalination plants and in overall grid network), allow remote monitoring and management of electric supply, and real-time analysis of the usage by both customers and utility companies. The project that started in early 2009 will roll out 250,000 smart meters by 2012 and will cost €70 million ($88 million).