Venture capitalists are pumping money into smart grid startups. Mercom Capital, a cleantech and healthcare research firm, released a report revealing that VCs have poured $142 million into smart grid companies in 26 deals during the third quarter of 2014. By comparison, smart grid investments totaled 81 million across 13 deals during the second quarter. But funding is slightly […]
EV 101: With V2G, your car is the battery
Besides reducing carbon emissions from car travel and ending America’s love affair with the fuel pump, electric vehicles (EVs) can perform another important function: energy storage for renewable energy sources. GE’s new Txchnologist website has an infographic that illustrates how your (future ?) plug-in can one day become a pivotal piece of the smart grid […]
Smart grid and consumers: Exploring a tough sell
When the Smart Grid Consumer Collective (SGCC) formed last year, it set on a tough and unforgiving road. The parties it represents — utilities and smart grid vendors, for the most part — were the enemy in the eyes of homeowners that saw their electric bills skyrocket soon after smart meters were installed. This led […]
Semitech lands Series A funding for power line smart grid communications
Singapore-based Semitech today announced that the company has raised $3.4 million AUS — incidentally nearly the same USD amount due to current exchange rates — with an option for up to $6 million more for a total possible haul of $9 million. The Series A round was led by Melbourne, Australia’s Cleantech Ventures. The startup […]
Top 10: Most popular ecoINSITE posts of 2010
It’s that time. Before we welcome a brand new year, here are 2010’s most popular posts according to you! 1. Stats of the Day: BP Oil Spill Google Results Back in June, I ran a little experiment. In terms of Google search results, how did BP’s recent oil spill compare against the previous top environmental […]
Dear Utilities, Get with the program
It pains me that utilities are still struggling to connect with consumers. After all, there’s no more compelling message nowadays than pure, simple savings. Forget putting some money aside for a rainy day; consumers today are getting downright frugal and aren’t afraid to show it. During my stint as Green IT curator at GigaOM Pro, […]
Broadcom bags Beceem as 4G smart grid networking beckons
Broadcom chips are common in mobile and telecom gear, particularly smartphones, networking adapters and tablets where connectivity to 3G and wireless networks is a must. Now the company has its sights set on (WiMAX and LTE) by acquiring privately-held Beceem, a 4G networking chipmaker, for $316 million. Santa Clara, Calif.-based Beceem is an attractive target […]
Smart Energy: Stuxnet and the smart grid security opportunity
If you’ve been following IT security lately, you’ve undoubtedly heard of Stuxnet. The worm is currently sparking some cybersecurity drama with a sprinkling of geopolitical intrigue. (Iran thinks the presence of the worm in its nuclear plant is an assault from foreign powers.) What sets this episode apart is that the worm targets industrial control […]
Stuxnet attracts mainstream attention
Stuxnet is no stranger to folks interested in computer security, more specifically smart grid security. Long story short: this nasty little piece of malware is very targeted, affecting a suite of software called Siemens Simatic WinCC that manages control systems in industrial facilities and critical infrastructure like power plants. It’s flown under the radar, by […]
IT rivalries spill onto the smart grid
Silly Cisco, you didn’t expect to own smart grid networking did you? GigaOM’s Katie Fehrenbacher has a great post today on how IT rivalries, particularly the one between Cisco and Juniper, are spilling into the smart grid space. Already, Google and Microsoft are tackling the home energy management market with PowerMeter and Hohm, respectively. Now, […]
