Smarter Systems For The Smart Grid

• In Brazil, a major energy company is improving its smart grid by optimizing communications systems for its workers with an initiative that includes remote troubleshooting for power meters.

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  With the transition to a smarter energy grid comes a whole new set of business challenges. Brazil's largest private energy provider, CPFL Energia Holdings, is working to develop a smarter grid. Now, IBM has teamed with the company to improve the smart grid strategy to increase operational efficiency and optimize the energy company's communication network.
  The project will consist of a three-part initiative by IBM, with the ultimate goal to benefit the company's customer service and workplace management.
  "Investing in a smart grid is more than a trend; it is a market requirement, especially here in Brazil where power consumption and population are expected to increase over the coming years," said Rubens Bruncek Ferreira, director at CPFL Energia, according to a statement. "Our collaboration with IBM ensures that we have the guidance, assessment tools and methodologies in place at the onset—all instrumental components to creating a roadmap that matches our current and future needs."
  During the first step of the initiative, "Automatic Meter Data Collection," which the company plans to complete by 2012, CPFL will install 25,000 intelligent meters. The meters will be connected to a central online server, allowing network operators to identify grid problems quickly. The smart meters will also allow technicians to address faults remotely.
  The second step, "Meter Data Management," will support the data received and transmitted by the meters. This step will integrate meter functionalities with CPFL's business operations by mixing end-to-end service management with real-time monitoring of grid devices.
  During the final "Optimized Communications Network" phase, vital business communications systems—voice, email and video—will undergo updates.
  "The CPFL SmartGrid projects illustrate how utilities worldwide are adding digital intelligence to their operations, with the goal of fundamentally changing how power is managed and distributed in their regions," said Guido Bartels, general manager of Energy and Utilities industry at IBM and chairman of the Global Smart Grid Federation, in a statement. 
  "Through the Global IUN Coalition,” Bartels continued, “CPFL and fellow members are able to share expertise and best practices that every member company can leverage to make its network even more responsive."