ENERGA and Intel Together For Smart Solutions In The Energy Sector

ENERGA Group, committed to developing smart energy solutions, and Intel, global leader in computing R&D, have signed a letter of intent. The companies declare their intent to work together on innovative development projects for the energy sector in Poland. The agreement provides for cooperation in two areas: increasing customer satisfaction and improving the quality of infrastructure. 

The agreement calls for cooperation and joint implementation of projects associated with the Internet of Things and web-based exchange of information between devices (e.g. household appliances). The use of cutting edge solutions should ensure a steady increase of energy efficiency, promote energy consumption awareness among customers and drive the quality of services in the energy sector. The letter of intent focuses on two areas: boosting customer satisfaction and loyalty, and continuously improving the quality of infrastructure. 

In the first area, the actions will be addressed to a group of energy buyers and suppliers and will entail primarily the provision of innovative services and tools to the customers to enable optimization and conscious energy consumption. Another goal of the project is to provide energy suppliers with tools for efficient monitoring and management of energy consumption by mass customers.

The other area of cooperation is infrastructure development and implementation of cutting edge solutions. The activities will be addressed to electricity distributors. The goal is, among others, to provide distributors with tools and technologies to improve safety and continuity of energy supply. As part of these activities, solutions based on the Internet of Things and web-based cooperation of appliances are to be implemented, including management of demand for energy, virtual power plant systems or systems for managing distribution of electricity from renewable energy sources.

- By taking up cooperation with the ENERGA group, we are making another step towards the implementation of the Internet of Things, also by building smart power grids. By expanding smart metering systems and auxiliary analytical systems, we will be able to better adjust electricity supply to demand and, as a result, improve energy efficiency, both at the micro and macro levels – said Tomasz Klekowski, Intel EMEA Business GTM Director. – The letter of intent signed today between Intel and the ENERGA Group and the resulting joint projects will pave the way to a broader cooperation between the companies.

- ENERGA is the pioneer in implementing smart metering in electricity distribution in Poland; this benefits our clients and ensures continuing growth of our business. We want to be the cutting edge energy distributor in Poland; cooperation with Intel, a global provider of innovative solutions, will give us access to unique know-how and technology. On the other hand, our experience and excellent knowledge of the industry and the market guarantees high effectiveness of our joint initiatives – said Mirosław Bieliński, the President of the ENERGA SA Management Board. 

In the letter of intent, both companies declare their willingness to cooperate. ENERGA as one of the largest energy groups in Poland will develop systems based on unique solutions incorporating the modern technologies from Intel. The group will engage in research and development in the field of energy management, efficiency gains in the use of energy and constant improvement of grid quality. Intel will provide support and unique know-how about the systems used in the Internet of Things environment for the energy sector. It will also act as a mediator in contacts with its partners that will support research and development initiatives and provide the highest quality hardware consistent with the requirements of the energy group.

The ENERGA Group undertakes active cooperation with its partners in projects to develop and implement innovative technology solutions and initiate joint research and development work. On 27 August (Wednesday) the energy group also signed a letter of intent with AGH University of Science and Technology in Cracow providing for the execution of joint projects at the Energy Center and training of future AGH graduates in fields consistent with the profile of ENERGA Group's operations.

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Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) is the global leader in computer innovation. The company designs and manufactures essential technologies that serve as the foundation for many of the world's computing devices. Intel is also a leader in corporate social responsibility and sustainable development, and is the first company in the world to offer "conflict-free" microprocessors. More information about the company can be found at newsroom.intel.com and blogs.intel.com and about Intel's conflict-free policy at conflictfree.intel.com. ENERGA Group is one of the five largest energy groups in Poland and the market leader in terms of the percentage of electricity generated from its own renewable sources. The Group’s core business entails distribution, generation and sale of electrical energy. It distributes and sells electricity to more than 2.9 million customers, both households and businesses.

ENERGA Group is the third largest integrated distribution system operator (DSO) in Poland in terms of volume of energy supply. Its distribution grid consists of power lines with a total length of over 190 thousand km covering almost 77 thousand km², i.e. about 25% of the country’s landmass.

ENERGA Group is also one of the three largest electricity suppliers in Poland in terms of the volume of electricity sold to end users, with a market share of about 15 percent.

ENERGA Group is committed to the development of smart solutions. The first phase of activities towards building the smart grid started in 2010 through the implementation of advanced metering infrastructure (AMI). Over 400 thousand meters have already been installed under this program, contributing to the rise of computer-based transmission of energy consumption data. The number of remote readings with AMI meters for billing purposes exceeded one million in the second quarter of 2014 and is likely to exceed 2 million and at the turn of the year.