Australian utility to deploy WiMAX smart-grid network : Motorola, GE lead contractors

SP AusNet, one of Australia’s largest utility companies, is deploying the world’s first smart-metering solution using WiMAX technology. SP AusNet said its four-year rollout of smart-metering technology will cover 680,000 smart meters to homes and small businesses in eastern and northeastern Victoria. Of those, 40,000 are expected to be rolled out by June.
Motorola Inc. is providing the end-to-end infrastructure for the solution, while GE Energy Services providing the meter communications technology and half of the smart meters. GridNet is supplying the network management system software to manage the meters, controllers, switches and other devices. Motorola has started rolling out the technology, using licensed WiMAX spectrum at 2.3 GHz, said Paul Norkus, director, 4G product marketing, Motorola Home & Networks Mobility business. A number of other partners are also helping with the project. WiMAX is often mentioned as a wireless solution for smart-grid projects, in part because it is a low-cost solution that can work well covering a large geographic area. Norkus said Motorola’s new WAP 650 base stations will be used on the network.
The Australian government has set aside up to $100 million to develop a smart grid system. The state government is mandating that 2.5 million smart meters be deployed in Victoria by 2013, as part of its Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) program. “The AMI program and the installation of smart meters will promote more efficient use of energy and provide customers with additional choices in meeting their energy supply needs,” said SP AusNet’s Managing Director Nino Ficca. “The program will also make SP AusNet better equipped to accurately detect electricity supply faults and respond to them faster,” he said.
AusNet said the government is starting with smart meters but hopes to expand beyond that in the future. “Australia’s Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts expects the country to have 10 million households in 2020, resulting in a 56% increase in energy demand. At the same time, the Australia government aims to reduce carbon emissions by 10% and increase renewable generation to 20% by 2020,” GE said in a prepared statement.
U.S. efforts
Utilities are looking at adding wireless communications to their infrastructure in order to deploy energy more efficiently and eventually perhaps even to price electricity according to supply and demand. Utilities Telecom Council President and CEO Bill Moroney said that San Diego Gas and Electric found that if 80% of its customers used their washers and dryers at off-peak times, it could eliminate two power plants. Wireless technology that could monitor appliances could use energy more efficiently and eliminate waste.
The Federal Communications Commission has launched an initiative around spectrum needs for future smart grid systems, including whether existing commercial spectrum should be used for smart-grid applications or if new spectrum needs to be set aside. The UTC would like 30 megahertz of spectrum at 1.8 GHz in order to align the U.S. utility network with its Canadian counterpart.