Trilliant brings smart grid solution to Ireland
Last Updated (Tuesday, 30 November 1999 00:00)
Written by Administrator
Friday, 08 May 2009 00:00
Directive EC 2006/32 requires that Member States increase energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gases by 20 percent while increasing the amount of renewable energy to 20 percent of the total energy supply – all by the year 2020. This initiative is commonly referred to as the “20-20-20” goal.
Trilliant Incorporated, headquartered in America’s Silicon Valley, is a pioneer in developing networking technology for power transmission and distribution. Trilliant’s platform solution includes hardware, software, and services that together make up the backbone of a smart power grid. Since the company’s inception in 1985, Trilliant has focused upon applying modern technology to dated power infrastructure by developing advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), grid analysis tools for utility companies, and other supporting software.
ESB Networks manages and operates the electrical distribution network in Ireland. There are currently about 150,000 kilometres of transmission wires connecting approximately 170,000 transformers throughout the country. ESB is currently deploying a four-year project that will upgrade the electrical infrastructure throughout the country.
“We look forward to bringing our smart grid expertise to bear for ESB and the citizens of Ireland,” said Andy White, president and CEO 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 deploy its SecureMesh smart grid solution in Ireland. Using standard protocols SecureMesh provides secure communications to provide a highly scalable and robust solution. SecureMesh shares information bi-directionally between consumer and utility and provides true smart grid functionality. Work crews are able to access the system remotely using a secure WiFi connection.
Advanced smart meter functions including time of use data, interval data collection, and processing of smart meter signals are supported. All these services provide insight into the health of the distribution grid and will be supported from the start.
Smart meters, AMI infrastructure, and supporting software will create visibility into the power grid that was previously impossible. Consumers can educate themselves about their energy consumption habits and other technologies, such as time of use pricing that encourages demand shifts, can be introduced in the future.
Eamon Ryan, Ireland’s Energy Minister, announced Ireland’s smart grid intentions in October of last year. Ryan said the goal is to have a smart meter installed in every Irish home within the next 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.
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.
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