Ubiquitous electricity has served as the foundation for numerous technological innovations in the modern world, but the electrical grid itself is based on decades-old technology and has suffered from low levels of investment for many years. Now, however, governments and industry leaders are coming together with newfound urgency to drive an overhaul of grid infrastructure and according to a new report from Pike Research, these efforts will yield cumulative global spending of $200 billion on Smart Grid technologies during the period from 2008 to 2015.
“Smart meters are currently the highest-profile component of the Smart Grid, but they are really just the tip of the iceberg,” says managing director Clint Wheelock. “Our analysis shows that utilities will find the best return on investment, and therefore will devote the majority of their capital budgets, to grid infrastructure projects including transmission upgrades, substation automation, and distribution automation.”
Pike Research forecasts that these grid automation initiatives will capture 84% of global Smart Grid investment through 2015, compared to just 14% for advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) and 2% for electric vehicle management systems. The cleantech market intelligence firm also anticipates that Smart Grid revenues will peak in 2013 after several years of a strong push by key governments, and will thereafter be a smaller, albeit still very substantial, market.
Pike Research’s report, “Smart Grid Technologies”, analyzes the global market opportunity for Smart Grid technologies and applications. The report examines utility business models, regulatory factors, technology issues, and the dynamics of end-user demand. It includes profiles and analysis of 70 key players in the rapidly evolving Smart Grid industry ecosystem, as well as detailed global market forecasts through 2015, segmented by region and application. An Executive Summary of the report is available for free download on the firm’s website.
Pike Research is a market research and consulting firm that provides in-depth analysis of global clean technology markets. The company’s research methodology combines supply-side industry analysis, end- user primary research and demand assessment, and deep examination of technology trends to provide a comprehensive view of the Smart Energy, Clean Transportation, Clean Industry, Corporate Sustainability, and Building Efficiency sectors. For more information, visit www.pikeresearch.com or call +1.303.997.7609.
Source: Pike Research, 28/12/09
mardi 29 décembre 2009
lundi 28 décembre 2009
China enacts law to promote renewable energy
China's utilities will be required to buy all the power produced by wind farms and other renewable sources under a new law meant to promote the industry and reduce heavy reliance on coal.
Legislators approved the measure Saturday as an amendment to China's 2006 renewable energy law, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.
Beijing has set ambitious goals for wind, solar and other renewable energy in an effort to clean up its environment and curb surging demand for imported oil and gas, which communist leaders see as a strategic weakness.
The measure also could help Beijing fulfill promises to restrain growth in emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases blamed for changing the climate.
"The legislation on improving the consumption of clean energy contributes to the global fight on climate change," said Wang Zhongying, director of the renewable energy development center of the Cabinet's main planning agency, according to Xinhua.
Other countries such as Germany and Spain also promote solar, wind and other renewable power sources by requiring utilities to buy it and to pay higher prices than for electricity from coal and other traditional sources.
Xinhua gave no details of pricing but said companies that operate China's power grid could be fined if they refuse to buy renewable power, which suggested the cost might be higher. It said grid operators would be required to improve their technology and capacity to absorb power from renewable sources.
China is one of the biggest users of wind power and the government is trying to promote use of solar by promising to pay up to 70 percent of the cost of new systems.
China faces the challenge that its windiest areas are far from populous cities, requiring costly transmission lines that in many areas have yet to be built. Wind farm construction has raced ahead so fast that 25 percent are not connected to the national power grid.
Government goals issued in 2005 call for at least 15 percent of China's power to come from wind, solar and hydropower by 2020, up from 9 percent now. Officials say that target may be raised to 20 percent because the industry is developing so fast.
Coal provides two-thirds of China's power and is expected to remain the dominant energy source in coming years.
China is the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse bases but is not bound by global agreements on curbing emissions because it is a developing economy. But the Cabinet promised last month to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide for each unit of economic output by 40 percent to 45 percent from 2005 levels by 2020.
Source : Associated Press quoted by Deseret News, 27/12/09
vendredi 25 décembre 2009
iPhone servira bientôt de billet de train...
Une application désormais disponible sur l'App Store, et gratuite, permet d'acheter un billet de train à la SNCF à l'aide de l'iPhone. Pour l'instant, le service est limité mais, dès le début 2010, le billet papier pourrait être supprimé.
La SNCF aime l'iPhone. Au mois de novembre, l'entreprise lançait SNCF Direct, une application pour le téléphone d'Apple permettant de consulter les horaires. De son côté, Voyages-SNCF en lance une autre, Horaires & Résa, avec laquelle on peut en plus acheter un billet, du moins pour un départ immédiat. Un code-barres est téléchargé dans le mobile et il faudra ensuite se rendre à une borne, en gare, pour imprimer une version papier du billet.
Horaires & Résa en fait un peu plus, reconnaissant les cartes de réduction, permettant de poser une option à confirmer ou d'annuler le voyage. Si l'usager a un compte personnel sur le site de Voyages-SCNF, l'iPhone s'y connectera automatiquement pour y consulter les voyages enregistrés comme favoris, ce qui simplifie la réservation.
Toutes les explications sont détaillées sur le blog de Voyages-SNCF et l'application est déjà disponible, gratuitement, sur l'App Store, à la rubrique Voyages.
Améliorations à venir
Selon Pierre Alzon, directeur général adjoint de Voyages-SNCF, interrogé par Le Figaro, ce lancement n'est qu'une étape. « Fin février ou début mars », explique-t-il, il ne sera plus nécessaire d'imprimer le billet. Il suffira de présenter au contrôleur une pièce d'identité et l'écran de l'iPhone qui affichera le code-barres de la transaction.
Le choix du téléphone d'Apple se justifie, selon Pierre Alzon, parce qu'il représente « 40 % du trafic sur le site d'Internet mobile de Voyages-SNCF ». Mais l'entreprise envisagerait de porter l'application sur les modèles utilisant Android, le logiciel système de Google. D'autres étapes sont promises, comme la possibilité de suivre sa position pendant le voyage (« la fin du "on est où, là ?" »...) ou une alerte en cas d'incident sur la ligne, une option qu'aurait sans doute appréciée les clients de Eurostar les 19 et 20 décembre derniers...
Source : Futura-Sciences.com, 25/12/09
La SNCF aime l'iPhone. Au mois de novembre, l'entreprise lançait SNCF Direct, une application pour le téléphone d'Apple permettant de consulter les horaires. De son côté, Voyages-SNCF en lance une autre, Horaires & Résa, avec laquelle on peut en plus acheter un billet, du moins pour un départ immédiat. Un code-barres est téléchargé dans le mobile et il faudra ensuite se rendre à une borne, en gare, pour imprimer une version papier du billet.
Horaires & Résa en fait un peu plus, reconnaissant les cartes de réduction, permettant de poser une option à confirmer ou d'annuler le voyage. Si l'usager a un compte personnel sur le site de Voyages-SCNF, l'iPhone s'y connectera automatiquement pour y consulter les voyages enregistrés comme favoris, ce qui simplifie la réservation.
Toutes les explications sont détaillées sur le blog de Voyages-SNCF et l'application est déjà disponible, gratuitement, sur l'App Store, à la rubrique Voyages.
Améliorations à venir
Selon Pierre Alzon, directeur général adjoint de Voyages-SNCF, interrogé par Le Figaro, ce lancement n'est qu'une étape. « Fin février ou début mars », explique-t-il, il ne sera plus nécessaire d'imprimer le billet. Il suffira de présenter au contrôleur une pièce d'identité et l'écran de l'iPhone qui affichera le code-barres de la transaction.
Le choix du téléphone d'Apple se justifie, selon Pierre Alzon, parce qu'il représente « 40 % du trafic sur le site d'Internet mobile de Voyages-SNCF ». Mais l'entreprise envisagerait de porter l'application sur les modèles utilisant Android, le logiciel système de Google. D'autres étapes sont promises, comme la possibilité de suivre sa position pendant le voyage (« la fin du "on est où, là ?" »...) ou une alerte en cas d'incident sur la ligne, une option qu'aurait sans doute appréciée les clients de Eurostar les 19 et 20 décembre derniers...
Source : Futura-Sciences.com, 25/12/09
Rethinking Innovation
By Benjamin Joffe, CEO Plus Eight Star
Rethinking Innovation
View more documents from Benjamin Joffe.
Virtual Goods in Asia
By Benjamin Joffe, CEO, PLus Eight Star
Virtual Goods in Asia
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Copenhagen’s new Bike Sharing System!
OPENbike
Copenhagen is about to get a new Bike Sharing system (finally), and of course the ambitions where high for the new system that will brand the world’s leading bicycle city. Therefore they set out an international competition to get the most modern and intelligent system. And it looks like they’ve got it. Yesterday the winners were announced, and here are the two first prices. I must admit OPENbike looks most appealing in my eyes, but as long as they’re more comfortable than the existing ones, we should be happy….
OPENbike
OPENbike (Jury’s report)
The jury hereby awards OPENbike a First Prize for its superior ambition to be a floating bike share system wherein the bicycle is virtually a system unto itself and the technology is integrated in the bicycle. OPENbike opens up for an exciting perspective relative to how a modern bike share system can allow itself to be swallowed up by the city’s spaces and become an integral part of everyday mobility in a larger city.
MYLOOP
MYLOOP (Jury’s report)
The Myloop entry distinguishes itself with a brilliant balance between design, user-friendliness and interaction with the urban landscape. The bicycle itself possesses a strong and iconic identity which manages to signal a rare combination of futurism and accessibility. Myloop uses a docking station that provides electricity to the bicycle’s energy demanding functionality and secures the bicycle when not in use.
The implementation of the system is estimated finished in 2013.
Source : veloslo.wordpress.com
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