The Green Edge: Preparing for Smart Grid Growth

Siemens AG, a leading provider of Smart Grid technology, reports that it is working to strengthen its market position in anticipation of increasing demand for Smart Grid expertise. Smart Grids are essential for integrating renewable power sources into power networks and for ensuring stable power supplies from solar and wind energy. Siemens has predicted that the global market for Smart Grid technology will reach $43.6 billion within five years, and recently announced it would seek to service at least 20% of that market. For its current fiscal year, Siemens estimated that it will make $1.45 billion in sales of its Smart Grid products.

"The world needs intelligent power grids in order to meet the growing demand for energy in a way that is eco-friendly and reliable," says Wolfgang Dehen, CEO of the Siemens Energy Sector, in a press release. "We estimate that the demand for electricity will double by 2030, due to trends like e-mobility, which is just emerging." Dehen referred to studies indicating that more than a billion tons of CO2 emissions could be abated with intelligent power networks by 2020.

The Smart Grid market has three primary components: Smart Metering (intelligent billing), Grid Intelligence (the grid infrastructure and its controls), and Utility IT (intelligent data management). Siemens is active in all three areas and currently leads the golbal market for grid intelligence, .ccording to the company. Siemens said it will strengthen its Smart Grid portfolio in the field of power-data management in the coming fiscal year by expanding it presence in the area of consumption data acquisition and billing.

A big impetus for Smart Grid growth is that they are a prerequisite for reaching the EU's 20-20-20 climate goals, said Siemens. The 20-20-20 climate goals aim to reduce CO2 emissions by 20% and increase the share of renewable energies in the European grid by 20% by 2020. Smart Grids are also included in many of the economic stimulus programs throughout the world, including the United States.

Siemens AG
Munich, Germany

Free Energy-Inspection Checklist

Fluke Corporation, a leader in portable electronic test and measurement technology, has published a free downloadable article showing how facility managers can help their companies through the economic downturn. Titled “Save Money With Best Practices And An Energy Inspection Checklist,” the download shows how to trim costs by optimizing the performance of existing heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems without new spending. It details 19 money-saving checks and inspections that should be conducted in such key energy-consumption areas as steam systems, cooling systems, fan systems, lighting and building automation. Download the article at www.fluke.com

Fluke Corporation
Everett, WA

Toolmaker Offers Battery Recycling Incentive

Industrial power tool maker DEWALT has announced a national battery-recycling program that will take place at the company's 82 service centers nationwide throughout October and November. In conjunction with the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corp. (RBRC), DEWALT hopes to encourage the thousands of professionals who rely on its nickel cadmium (Ni-Cd), nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH) and lithium-ion (Li-Ion) batteries on a daily basis to aid in helping the environment by recycling old units. Through the program, users who recycle their Ni-Cd, Ni-MH or Li-Ion DEWALT power tool batteries at one of the company's service centers will receive a $10 discount to put toward their next DEWALT battery purchase.

The RBRC, a non-profit public service organization dedicated to recycling used rechargeable batteries and old cell phones, will provide DEWALT with recycling bins to place in each of its 82 service centers. RBRC will then collect the batteries and recycle them for future use through its Call2Recycle® program.

To find participating drop-off locations and for more information call (877) 2-RECYCLE or visit www.call2recycle.org

DEWALT Industrial Tool Co.
Towson, MD

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