Con Edison Lobbies for Grants to Develop Smart Grid
Con Edison of New York has applied for state and federal grants and other financial help to fund its $435 million “smart grid program”. Con Edison handles some of the highest global load densities. The company is responsible for supplying energy for use in the densely populated regions of New York City and its suburbs, and northern New Jersey. Con Edison has already been at work with theViridity Energy Company and New York City Economic Development Corporation to implement solar power in urban buildings. Read more about Development of Smart Grids
A smart grid makes use of communications technology and computerized systems to generate and deliver electrical power, so that the production and consumption of electricity becomes more efficient, affordable, and clean. Con Edison already has a smart grid underway in North Queens, New York.
The area that Con Ed serves through its 3 million customers is the most diversified and complex testing grounds for both urban and suburban smart grid performance. Energy would be used more efficiently, alternative energy sources would receive increased support, electric vehicle charging infrastructure could be implemented on a large scale, and the level of reliability of delivery to all customers including media centers, major medical facilities, financial institutions, and transportation systems would be increased.
Development of Smart Grids
The aforementioned Viridity is just one year old and is one of the smaller companies that Con Edison works with. Viridity is developing demand response software, designed to handle and coordinate load demand according to energy generation, pricing, and storage. There are several other parties involved in working together with Con Edison on the smart grid program as well.
The Boeing Company is working with Con Edison on development of security and communications frameworks, while Columbia University helps to develop intelligent energy storage and maintenance in conjunction with the Prosser Group and CALM Energy. These initiatives have already demonstrated certain levels of success in the Queens pilot program already mentioned. This part of the project also involves developing preventive maintenance and self-healing capabilities so that system failures are minimized or eliminated. While all of this goes on, the Rudin Management Company Inc. works to improve emergency response and energy efficiency.
The Queens program is also going to be a testing ground for solar energy, smart meters, and electric vehicle infrastructure for a period of 18 months. 1,500 customers are going to get smart meters for the pilot, but Con Edison’s true objective is to install over 40,000 smart meters.
All of these measures are being taken so that the ever-increasing energy demand of the region can be met with efficiency, cost effectiveness, and less pollution. If it is successful, we can be sure that we’ll be seeing more smart grid development by other companies all across the nation.
Read more about Development of Smart Grids
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