Cisco Systems, which began its aggressive push into the power distribution space in May, is partnering with energy metering technology maker Landis+Gyr to create smart grid solutions that will benefit both the companies that generate and distribute energy and the people who consume it. Power distribution is one of 30 market sectors that Cisco is aiming its solutions at.
Cisco Systems is teaming up with Landis+Gyr, a Switzerland-based maker of
energy metering technology, to develop solutions for smart grid environments.
The partnership, announced July 31, will incorporate Cisco's expertise in
networking and security and Landis+Gyr's metering infrastructure and
applications.
The goal is to create a
smart
grid communications infrastructure that will result in both energy
companies and their customers finding ways to more efficiently and cost-effectively
manage power.
The solutions will enable the energy companies integrate existing
capabilities with new-and renewable-power sources. They will be standards-based
and will create an environment where multiple smart grid efforts can be brought
together and optimized, according to officials.
"Together, we can help utilities drive new service models and develop
additional revenue streams, such as energy-related services for home and
building energy management, while achieving energy efficiency and cost savings
for consumers," Marthin de Beer, senior vice president of Cisco's
Emerging Technologies Group, said in a statement.
Cisco in May turned its attention to
smart
grid efforts, which are aimed at not only helping power companies find ways
to more efficiently manage and distribute energy, but also for consumers to
find better ways of using it.
Power distribution is one of 30 "market adjacencies" CEO
John Chambers said during a keynote speech at the Cisco Live 2009 event in June
that his
company
would pursue. Cisco, like other vendors, is looking to move away from
simply offering products and toward offering solutions through its own
offerings as well as partnerships, such as the one with Landis+Gyr.
The collaboration between the two companies, which will take advantage of
such open standards as IP, also will focus on such areas as utility data
centers, smart metering, and wireless and fixed communications to ensure
interoperability across the smart grid solutions they've created.
Email
Print
