LIBERTY LAKE, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–As a pioneer in distributed intelligence (DI), Itron, Inc. (NASDAQ: ITRI) announced that it is extending its revolutionary DI platform to enable intelligence in any device, thus accelerating the energy transition. The company unveiled its new DI network interface card (NIC) that enables edge computing in third-party devices, moving grid analysis, decision making, and control to the periphery of the grid, resulting in significantly improved time to action, better situational awareness, more accurate analysis, and advanced event detection. The DI NIC, the first of its kind, will play a pivotal role in creating new applications for integrating distributed energy resources, such as electric vehicles and solar power, into the low-voltage grid.
With this breakthrough technology, Itron and third-party technology companies, including energy retailers, aggregators, or distribution companies, are accelerating innovation. When available, these devices can take advantage of Itron’s existing industrial IoT network infrastructure, proven at scale with more than 200 million connected devices deployed worldwide. Utilities and cities can then seamlessly add DI-enabled third-party devices to existing or new Itron networksextending the solution’s capabilities and leveraging Itron’s growing ID ecosystem.
Itron’s Innovative DI NIC Opens the Way for a Wider Range of Host Devices to Provide Distributed Intelligence, extending the reach of Itron’s DI platform beyond advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) to smart home electrical panels, load control switches, electric vehicle charging management ( EV), smart solar inverters, grid sensors and more. The first applications will link the low voltage network to home energy management. This will enable utilities to offer an end-to-end solution from home energy management to low-voltage grid management using Itron’s single real-time platform, increasing the consumer satisfaction, reducing costly infrastructure upgrades, improving resilience and helping utilities meet their carbon emissions. reduction targets.
As part of the launch, Itron collaborates with Luminous to enable cutting-edge intelligence in enterprise smart electrical panels. DI-enabled smart panels will help utilities manage the load across the entire distribution network, including down to specific circuits within a home in tight coordination with distributed energy resources behind the meter. This allows utilities to implement summer and winter demand response programs without deploying additional hardware. Pre-integrated solutions like this are a cost-effective way for flexible demand-side management programs to reduce peak power and put the consumer in charge of their energy management in real time.
Authorization of partners
Itron’s Partner Enablement Program provides a framework for third-party companies to integrate the DI NIC into their hardware devices. Partners have access to developer tools and resources to optimize, enhance and extend their service offerings, and all partner technologies go through Itron’s rigorous onboarding process to ensure compatibility and security. This is complementary to Itron’s DI Software Development Kits, which allow third parties to develop their own applications for Itron’s DI platform. Existing and new Itron partners are encouraged to bring their technology to Itron to extend the industry-leading intelligence platform, helping to deliver value to customers.
Use case
With the Itron DI NIC, third parties can enable a multitude of use cases, such as:
Customer and employee safety
Improved worker safety by detecting high temperature events (micro arcing), high impedance, counter bypass and other issues at the measurement endpoint
Consumer Engagement
To help consumers better manage their energy consumption by giving them insight into their energy consumption and associated contributory charges
Network operations and optimization
Monitoring and control of renewables that help manage their potential impacts on grid operations
Detection of electric vehicle (EV) and photovoltaic (PV) technology that supports utility awareness programs and better management of these resources in the grid
Active transformer load management to help preserve transformer life and reduce unplanned outages
Network sensors to provide utilities with an up-to-date location of assets in the distribution network topology
Detect power quality issues such as harmonics, swells, voltage sags, voltage spikes that cause capacity and equipment problems.
Increased voltage monitoring capabilities to monitor, manage and optimize network operations
Improved demand response schedules with more granular, near real-time load shedding
Improved disaster recovery times with sophisticated failure detection algorithms that can determine the location and type of failure
Estimate
“With the launch of our DI NIC, we are extending Itron’s IoT platform leadership, enabled by distributed intelligence, to new applications. This marks an important step in enabling intelligence and control at the network edge, helping our customers achieve a new level of distribution system visibility and resiliency,” said Don Reeves, senior vice president results at Itron. “With over 5 million DI-enabled smart devices shipped, Itron is a true expert in delivering distributed intelligence. We bring this capability to third-party devices to accelerate the energy transition, helping to integrate more distributed energy resources into the low-voltage grid. We’re excited to partner with other technology companies, like Lumin, to bring this game-changing technology into their devices.
“Lumin helps homeowners control their home’s microgrid to improve and protect their solar and energy storage investment, participate in demand response programs, and manage their energy in real time to avoid upgrades. expensive service charges and electrical panel replacements, which is necessary when adding EV chargers or switching to electrical appliances.The new DI NIC allows Lumin to utilize the existing network infrastructure connecting millions of homes as a basis for integrating distributed microgrids into the larger grid,” said Alex Bazhinov, President and Founder of Lumin. “The transition to a clean, renewable energy future and the electrification of homes requires the rapid deployment of new infrastructure to help the network accommodate and manage the resources behind the meter. Itron’s technology allows us to get there faster while g ensuring reliable communications for utilities and customers who rely on Lumin’s load management and real-time data capabilities to balance the network and provide critical demand response. Most importantly, this integration is an important stepping stone to supporting affordable, reliable and carbon-free electricity for our customers.
Availablity
Itron is currently working with partners to deliver DI capabilities in their products in early 2024. To learn more and get involved, visit developer.itron.com or contact us by email at itronpartnernetwork@itron.com. To see a DI demonstration, visit Itron booth 2514 at DISTRIBUTECH, February 7-9, 2023.
About Itron
Itron enables utilities and cities to safely, securely and reliably deliver critical infrastructure solutions to communities in more than 100 countries. Our portfolio of smart grids, software, services, meters and sensors helps our customers better manage electricity, gas and water resources for the people they serve. By working with our customers to ensure their success, we help improve the quality of life, ensure safety and promote the well-being of millions of people around the world. Itron is dedicated to creating a smarter world. Join us: www.itron.com.
Itron® is a registered trademark of Itron, Inc. All third party trademarks are the property of their respective owners and any use herein does not suggest or imply any relationship between Itron and the third party unless expressly stated.
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