Log in
  
Home > Specialty Markets > Utilities
Related topics: Utilities,AEC, News Room, Sensors, Standards & Protocols, Wireless
Utilities

ZigBee Alliance Members Awarded Nearly $500 Million

October 29, 2009

The funds from U.S. Smart Grid grants are expected to spur more ZigBee Smart Energy implementations.


SAN RAMON, CA /PRNewswire/ -- The ZigBee Alliance, a global ecosystem of companies creating wireless solutions for use in energy management, commercial and consumer applications, congratulates its members who were selected to receive funding for their Smart Grid efforts as part of the United States American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. ZigBee Alliance members received a total of $478,823,415, representing a total investment of more than $1.2 billion in smart grid programs with ZigBee Smart Energy as the standard for home area networks.

Individual ZigBee members received between $4 million and $200 million dollars for their Smart Grid projects. Members earning grants include: CenterPoint Energy, Baltimore Gas and Electric, Reliant Energy Retail Services, San Diego Gas and Electric, Honeywell International and Whirlpool. Grants were awarded for a variety of ZigBee Smart Energy products and services, including large smart meter programs covering 4.7 million meters, installation of a variety of devices such as programmable communicating thermostats, in-home displays and load controllers, plus expediting the development of smart appliances.

ZigBee Smart Energy enables wireless communication between utility companies and everyday household devices such as smart thermostats and appliances. It is the underlying technology providing consumers with dynamic pricing information as well as programming control over smart appliances. This control allows consumers to manage their power use and how much they spend on energy while participating in demand response programs designed to help utilities manage generation needs during peak power periods.

The ZigBee Smart Energy profile was selected by the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) as an initial interoperable standard for HAN devices for the Smart Grid.

"ZigBee Alliance members have been taking an active role in developing the Smart Grid for years and these grants are recognition for our members' leadership on this important initiative," said Bob Heile, chairman of the ZigBee Alliance. "With ZigBee Smart Energy's position in the marketplace and its role as an initial interoperable standard by NIST for the critical home area network piece of the Smart Grid, we expect that those utilities and product manufacturers sitting on the sidelines will adopt ZigBee."

About ZigBee Smart Energy
ZigBee Smart Energy enables wireless communication between utility companies and common household devices such as smart thermostats and appliances. It improves energy efficiency by allowing consumers to choose interoperable products from different manufacturers giving them the means to manage their energy consumption more precisely using automation and near real-time information. It also helps utility companies implement new advanced metering and demand response programs to drive greater energy management and efficiency, while responding to changing government requirements.

About ZigBee
ZigBee is the global wireless language connecting dramatically different devices to work together and enhance everyday life. The ZigBee Alliance is a non-profit association of more than 300 member companies driving development of ZigBee wireless technology. The Alliance promotes world-wide adoption of ZigBee as the leading wirelessly networked, sensing and control standard for use in energy, home, commercial and industrial areas.






Sensors.tv