Europe: New EU guidelines should increase demand response

Last year the European Commission (part of the three-part EU government) published the 2012 Energy Efficiency Directive — which set legally binding measures to step up Member States’ efforts to use energy more efficiently at all stages, from production to distribution to consumption. Last week, the EC explained more about how to implement the EED, by issuing additional guidance on energy efficiency to Europe’s Member States on energy efficiency.

Full post: New guidelines should increase demand response in Europe

Positive business case for smart meters in Northern Ireland

Congratulations to Northern Ireland, which has joined the club of over 30 states and countries with positive business cases for smart meters.

Recently the Northern Ireland Department of Enterprise, Trade & Investment released the region’s smart meter cost-benefit analysis. Implementing smart meters for the nearly 1 million electricity customers there is expected to yield net savings of up to £56 million ($87 million at the current exchange rate).

Full post, by Alicia Carrasco: Northern Ireland’s positive business case for smart meters

Smarter energy markets for the UK

It’s not just meters and power grids that are getting smarter. U.K. energy regulator Ofgem is advancing plans to make energy markets in that nation “smarter” — that is: more efficient and yielding better consumer outcomes. Smarter energy markets also would provide consumers with ready access to an abundance of easily digestible information about their energy use, plus time-varying pricing options and automation to help them actively engage as market players.

This week Ofgem published its Promoting Smarter Energy Markets work program. This follows the agency’s earlier consultation on this topic, which drew 34 responses — including a response from eMeter…

Full post, by Alicia Carrasco: UK moves to make energy markets smarter

In Spain, smart meters would avoid meter reading hassles, inaccurate bills

In most of Europe it’s just once per year that utilities send staff out to read customer electric meters. However, most customers receive monthly or quarterly bills, based on consumption as estimated by the utility. To get bills based on actual consumption, customers must read their own meters and post that usage data on the utility’s website, or write it down and send it to the utility.

I took this photo in the elevator of my Barcelona apartment building on the afternoon of Sunday, July 8 — when residents had just a few hours left to write down on this posted notice their past month’s electricity consumption as displayed on their meter…

Full post by Alicia Carrasco: Spain: Smart meters would avoid meter reading hassles, inaccurate bills

Ireland to deploy smart meters by 2019

On July 4 Ireland’s Commission for Energy Regulation announced its final decision to approve the rollout of smart meters between 2014 and 2019. Here are some details of this plan…

Full post: Ireland to roll out smart meters by 2019

EU: New energy efficiency, smart meter requirements coming

By September the European Union may have a new energy efficiency strategy in place. On June 14 negotiators struck a provisional deal on the proposed new EU energy efficiency directive (the “Third Energy Efficiency Directive”). Final approval is likely.

Full post: EU gets closer to new energy efficiency, smart meter requirements

Grid4EU: Six major European smart grid projects collaborate

A major new European Union program aims to enhance several major smart grid pilot projects happening around Europe.

Grid4EU — a four-year, multi-national project — comprises six smart grid projects by utilities in France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Sweden, and the Czech Republic. Together these projects cover more than half of Europe’s electricity supply. Also participating are more than 25 partners from several countries representing industry, system integrators, research centers and universities.

Full post by Alicia Carrasco: Grid4EU: Key players across Europe collaborate on smart grid innovation

From London to New York: How sustainable cities can engage citizens

London offers huge potential to become a truly sustainable city — thanks to smart meters, decentralized energy production, and smart people.

I live in London, and am pleased that there are initiatives here which recognize and promote the deployment of smart meters for electricity (and hopefully, soon, water). These efforts note the benefits that smart meters can provide — such as helping people save energy, water and money as well as increasing the use of renewable resources.

I read about several of these efforts in the first quarterly newsletter of the Low Carbon London project, which launched six months ago…

Full post, by Alicia Carrasco: How sustainable cities can engage citizens: from London to New York

Smart grid key to Denmark’s plan to go 100% renewable energy

Recently the government of Denmark committed to shifting half of its total energy consumption to renewable resources in a decade — and to go to 100% renewables in the future.

On March 22 the Danish Ministry of Climate, Energy and Buildings released an agreement to meet half of that nation’s electricity need with wind power by 2020. Currently wind power can serve only a quarter of Denmark’s 1.5 million households.

This agreement also covers energy use for heating, industry, and transportation — not just residential electricity service. It implies that Denmark could cut energy consumption by 12% by 2020 (compared to 2006 usage).

Full post by Alicia Carrasco: Denmark commits to 100% renewable energy

Demand response can help Europe’s vulnerable energy market

At the recent E-World energy and water trade show in Germany, it became apparent that the European energy market is showing significant signs of vulnerability. These problems could even lead to blackouts. Here’s how demand response can help.

Full post, by Alicia Carrasco: Europe’s energy market is vulnerable; demand response can help