GE backs EU smart grid roadmap

18 December 2009

US power company GE has endorsed the European Union Commission’s introduction of a smart grid roadmap to border-neutral carbon reduction.

The commitment will involve Smart grid technologies will be used in an EU-wide smart city strategy that will see smart meters deployed in homes, together with technology to optimize renewable generation and accommodate plug-in electric vehicles.

Ricardo Cordoba, president, GE Energy for Western Europe and North Africa, said, ‘With the Copenhagen climate change talks in progress, now is the optimum time to plan how we will deliver smarter, cleaner and more efficient electricity. A smarter grid is a proven path to ensure the integration of renewable and distributed generation, to increase the efficiency of energy delivery, to empower consumers to manage energy use and reduce bills.’

However, the company said that recommendations by the EU Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan for significantly increased research and testing should be re-examined, claiming that GE and other smart grid providers had already tested and proven the technology.

‘GE stands ready to help with technology investments, expertise and strategies for smarter energy distribution and consumption,” said Cordoba.

GE also called for euro zone member countries to finalise a plan on how the smart grid roll-out will be financed, stating that the job creation and economic opportunities should provide incentives for governments to act. The company said that existing technologies meant that the commission’s targets of 25 to 30 cities and half the European Union operating on a smart grid by 2020 could be improved upon.

Copyright © 2009 NewNet

Tags: smart grid

This story was published on Friday, December 18th, 2009 at 7:02 pm and is filed under Europe, energy efficiency, policy. You can follow any responses to article entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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