Intel and Energa introduce the Internet of Things to the power sector

Solutions to manage power demand will be one of deliverables coming from the cooperation between Intel, a global leader in IT innovation and the Energa Group, which is focused on developing smart solutions. Representatives of both companies agreed on the scope of subsequent activities following the signing of their letter of intent in August.

During Intel Innovation Day in London Peter Gleissner, vice-president of Intel Corporation, EU director and Juliusz Komorowski, new markets development director at Energa S.A. discussed the action plan stemming from the joint initiatives enumerated in the letter of intent concerning innovative development projects for the power sector. Their objective is to implement the Internet of Things (IoT) to exchange information between devices (e.g. household appliances) via the web, as well as innovative methods entailing education and activization of power clients to use power actively and deliberately.

Measure, monitor, optimize with IoT

The representatives of these two companies agreed that during the first phase joint activities will aim at developing peripheral equipment using Intel’s IoT components (including a Quark processor with Windriver and McAfee), writing cloud software to integrate the operation of these devices, and a set of mobile applications enabling clients to monitor and analyze power consumption on an ongoing basis and for power clients and prosumers to avail themselves of the opportunities afforded by power market development. The expectation is that the pilot program for the new device will be launched in the first quarter of next year.

“Electricity is the driving force for an enormous number of processes in our world. However, the potential to source it is not unlimited and this continues to constitute a burden on the natural environment”, – said Peter Gleissner, vice-president of Intel Corporation. “We must constantly endeavor to use it in an optimal manner, develop and implement tools and technologies to assist in this process (…). I am certain that this is a very good path to create new values quickly and effectively in Poland’s power system.”

“The technologies and solutions presented during Intel Innovation Day provide proof of the enormous technologic progress, which translates into genuine benefits for all power market participants every year (…). It was with complete conviction that I confirmed to our partners Energa’s determination to engage in jointly creating and rolling out smart solutions in the power sector (…)” , said Juliusz Komorowski, new markets development director at Energa S.A.

The Energa Group is a pioneer in Poland in terms of implementing smart solutions in the distribution of electricity. Within the framework of the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) implementation program, more than 400 thousand meters have been installed to date, with the number of remote readings having surpassed 1.5 million. The most important results produced by AMI to date include customers reducing their total power consumption by 2 to 4%, and by as much as 5 to 14% in peak hours, and reducing network losses by 10% in those areas where AMI has been rolled out.