An alliance of smart technology providers have joined together in an effort to accelerate the clean energy transition through digitalisation and make cities ‘smart’ through control of distributed energy resources.
The Energy IoT [Internet of Things] and Smart City Technology Alliance consists of Envision Energy, Microsoft, Accenture and others, with further companies expected to join later.
The group, initiated by Envision with its EnOS IoT platform, will seek to bring together members of the distributed renewable energy sector with new digital solutions to improve efficiency and quicken the pace towards a digital clean energy transition.
Lei Zhang, founder and chief executive of Envision, said: “The old energy paradigm is breaking down and will be replaced by a new era of energy.
“The purpose of this alliance is to accelerate the digital transition and solve challenges through great team work. Together we are dedicated to making the new era of beautiful energy a near-term reality.”
It will use Microsoft’s Azure Cloud Platform to provide secure and flexible data storage and computing; Accenture’s Enterprise Service experience to facilitate the application integration process; and Envision intends to collect intelligence from physical assets in an attempt to transform utility sector applications.
The intention is to position alliance members at the forefront of the energy transition through efficient networks across buildings, industry parks, vehicles, power generation plants, electric distribution, storages and end-user consumptions that help make cities ‘smart’.
Alan Crozier, corporate vice president, chairman and CEO of Microsoft in the Greater China region, said: “The powerful combination of Microsoft’s Cloud and Envision’s IoT platform will help millions of enterprises and consumers in hundreds of cities across the world to embrace digital transformation, creating a new benchmark for the entire energy industry.”
The alliance intends to begin its work enhancing technological and network exchanges and beneficial business practices among its member companies. Those efforts are expected to result in an increase in R&D spending in the US and globally, as well as industry standardisation that will bolster transformation of the energy industry.
