IBM, C&W announce UK smart energy cloud

LONDON, UK: IBM and Cable&Wireless Worldwide announced their collaboration to develop a new data and communications solution, UK Smart Energy Cloud, to support the UK's Smart Meter Implementation Programme, which aims to rollout more than 50 million smart meters in the UK.

This collaboration is to create a flexible, secure and scalable data and communications hub to support the UK Government's strategy to cut emissions by 80 percent by 2050.

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UK Smart Energy Cloud will have the ability to gather data many times a day, from any smart meter in the country and store it centrally in a secure, purpose built, UK based hosted cloud environment. Data can then be sent to energy retailers for assessment, therefore ensuring consumers receive more accurate bills. In addition, Distributor Network Operators (DNOs) will also receive this data which will enable smart grid functionality.

"As we start the journey towards a low carbon economy smart meters will drive a wave of change in the energy system and are set to become an increasingly important part of the nation's critical infrastructure", says Laurence Carpanini, director, Smart Meters and Smart Grids, IBM UK & Ireland. "With this collaboration, we can provide the UK with a flexible, intelligent solution based on proven technology."

Matt Key, MD of Enterprise at C&W Worldwide, said: "We believe a collaboration of this kind is the most natural approach to achieving an end to end solution for a complete smart metering roll-out and making smart grid a reality. The challenge is for smart meters to reach the entire UK population and this will require a combination of enabling solutions, such as GPRS, radio and Power Line Carrier to make sure it's cost effective."