Intel hosted the first meeting of the IEEE to work on the IEEE 2030 initiative at its Santa Clara, California headquarters. The IEEE-SA P2030 guide will provide a knowledge framework for understanding and defining smart grid interoperability of the electric power system with end use applications, setting the stage for future standards related to the smart grid.
The meeting, which gathered 150 engineers and industry leaders, is described as an important initial step in beginning the task of identifying existing standards, as well as technology holes that need to be fixed to deliver on smart grid interoperability. The initiative aims to set industry standards for connecting the power grid to the communications infrastructure.
The Santa Clara meeting was one in a series of related national meetings in the past six weeks, from Washington to Santa Clara, from government to the private sector, to build frameworks and begin work around standards. Some $4.5 billion in federal stimulus money is targeted toward the smart grid construction, a figure that’s estimated to be at least a tenth what the overall industry investment will be.
"In order for the smart grid to be successful, there needs to be a set of well-established standards in place that all industries and organizations involved can utilize," said Dr. W. Charlton Adams, Jr., President, IEEE Standards Association. "IEEE, with over 375,000 members among the academic, government and private sectors worldwide, is in a unique position to bring everyone together to collaborate to create this standard foundation. Working hand in hand with other leading organizations to create one set of standards for the smart grid is the way we can ensure success."
