2 - Fortum invests in More Efficient and Secure Power Grid in Norway
Fortum invests in More
Efficient and Secure Power Grid in Norway
Fortum is investing in a Smart Metering / smart Grid
system based on two-way communication in Norway. The installation of the new
meters will begin in 2013 and altogether 100,000 households as well as small
business customers in Fortum's network area will be connected to the Smart Grid
by 2015. Fortum has chosen Telvent to deliver, install and operate the system.
The service agreement includes 100.000 of Echelon's metering equipment,
Telvent's system as well as maintenance and collection of meter readings.
Fortum and Telvent's contract also includes several options for future
development and upgrading. ?Telvent has since 2009 been Fortum's partner in the
currently ongoing Finnish smart metering rollout.
Fortum, with 1.6 million customers, is a leading
energy company in the Nordic countries, Russia and the Baltic region. Fortum
Norway, the 7th largest utility in Norway and holds a minority interest in
Hafslund, the largest utility in the nation.
"With the new smart meters, invoicing will be
based on real electricity consumption," Fortum’s vice president for
distribution, Ari Koponen said. "Customers receive more accurate
information on their electricity consumption and therefore have better
possibilities for saving energy. In addition, the smart meters will be used for
more efficient power failure resolution and as a platform for future
development of Smart Grids and services within electricity solutions."
The new Telvent Titanium system will allow Fortum to operate
its power grid more efficiently, securely and cost-effectively by ensuring
correct energy demand response during times of peak demand. This becomes
critically important when administering incident and outage management. In
addition, the solution provides Fortum with more accurate consumption
information to ensure effective system maintenance, network operation practices
and customer satisfaction.
Fortum is promoting sustainable energy consumption habits
among its customers: Now, residential and small business energy users will have
continuous access to their power consumption information and the ability to
responsibly manage their energy use.
According to Telvent's chairman and CEO, Ignacio Gonzalez,
“We are pleased with the opportunity to continue our work with Fortum to
promote sustainable energy practices in the Nordic region. Our selection by
such a highly regarded utility affirms that Telvent has the extensive knowledge
and high-level technology to support utilities in modernizing their Smart Grid
operations.”
Echelon’s senior vice president for global utility market,
Michael Anderson declared: "As the Norwegian smart grid market comes alive, we
look forward to applying all of the knowledge we have gained in projects
throughout Europe. Echelon is the go-to brand for energy
control networking in Europe not only because of the proven reliability and
scalability we bring but also because our solution offers the most value to
utilities and their customers. We enable utilities to quickly achieve the
benefits of a smart grid infrastructure that can deliver a positive return on
investment – with the confidence that the Echelon solution can expand to meet
their future needs."
Norwegian legislation requires hourly meter reading by the
end of 2016. The mart metering system provided to Fortum's customers will
include a variety of features such as consumption reporting via the internet
and a connection to future smart home systems via an interface in the meter.
Harry Crijns - ESNA