Smart Grid Getting Smarter

How IT will help reduce carbon emissions, and the need for tech-savvy pros to develop such systems, is at the heart of this blog. And, here's an example of one such technology.

GridPoint this week is demonstrating software that allows owners of electric vehicles to set parameters so utilities can charge their cars and trucks to optimize a smart electric grid, charging when renewable energy is available or when grid energy usage is low.

In a statement issued by GridPoint, Tony Posawatz, line director for General Motors' hybrid auto Volt, says:

“By embedding GridPoint’s software in electric vehicles, we enable utilities to offer reduced charging costs to customers and allow clean energy, such as wind and solar power, to be used as a source for recharging vehicles. Additionally, we help utilities eliminate the need to build new power plants that would otherwise be required to support the mass adoption of electric vehicles.”