SmartSynch announced Wednesday that it has a plan for allowing universal communications between appliances, smart grids, and utilities, regardless of which communication protocol is used.

In May 2008, the Jackson, Miss.-company garnered $20 million in a funding round led by Credit Suisse to develop its communications devices and software for smart meters.

What has emerged is the GridRouter, an Internet Protocol-based universal router with an open platform that can communicate with public and private networks whether they be using WiMax, municipal Wi-Fi, or a proprietary network system.

According to SmartSynch, the GridRouter is designed on the principles of openness and interoperability, the IP-enabled GridRouter is a universal, interchangeable and remotely upgradable solution engineered to revolutionize the smart grid. Specifically, the GridRouter:

• Provides a point-to-point smart grid communications platform that can facilitate data transfer to any smart grid device on any network (public or private)
• Can be managed by standard commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) network IT management tools that most utilities already implement
• Functions like any other network appliance on an IP network, such as a PC or copy machine
• Offers a standard, open platform that allows multiple companies to provide value to the customer as part of an 'ecosystem of innovation'
• Is field upgradable—allowing utilities to add multiple communication technologies to their smart grid communications infrastructure based on future needs without having to replace an entire system backbone

Currently, utilities have no choice but to purchase and integrate non-interoperable proprietary technologies from multiple vendors that have purpose-built network communications. The GridRouter bridges the network gap between these types of devices and allows each vendor to participate in an open ecosystem, and helps utilities avoid being locked into one specific technology or device.

"The GridRouter is the 'Rosetta Stone' of the smart grid, allowing multiple digital energy language users to quickly understand each other for the first time," said SmartSynch CEO Stephen Johnston. "With the GridRouter, utilities can embrace the best technologies and future-proof the smart grid simultaneously, which significantly reduces the technology risk factor. Similar to how network routers transformed the Internet from slow, one-dimensional Web sites to a high bandwidth experience with voice and video, the GridRouter opens the door to new applications and networks, utilizes greater bandwidth and increases functionality—transforming the smart electricity grid as we know it."

"The goal of the stimulus funding was to finance technology that would provide a foundation for years or even decades, but if utilities spend money on proprietary technology, they may have to replace it in a few years," said metering expert Dr. Aaron Snyder of Enernex in a recent issue of Smart Grid Today. "The vision of an interoperable, plug-and-play power grid cannot come to pass if each of the country's 3,000 utilities is in its own incompatible island of non-compliant technology."

Johnston said the smart grid industry should not view the GridRouter as a competitive product, but rather a solution engineered specifically to allow utilities to exercise choice over plug-in devices and grid assets from different vendors into their overall smart grid infrastructure. "It allows reclosers from Sweitzer and Cooper to be part of the same smart grid network along with meters from Echelon and other providers," Johnston said. "The GridRouter actually transforms competition into collaboration and facilitates an ecosystem of innovation in which multiple companies can provide value to utilities."

Source: SmartSynch

Comments (2)

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written by Fran Tracy, December 03, 2009

It iws stime the power was taken away from companies by letting them make it so only their software would work with their computer ect. This is a big step forward and I hope it translates to home computers and software.
Fran

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written by Jacob Mintz, December 17, 2009

It sounds like a great idea to fill a real need and a niche driven solution
I'm curious about the details, what architecture and developers tools the GridRouter has that justify the "openness" claim.

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