IEEE launches Smart Grid Web Portal

The Web Portal (http://smartgrid.ieee.org) is designed for manufacturers, policymakers, educators, academics, governments, engineers, computer scientists, researchers and other stakeholders in the power and energy, information technology (IT), and communications industries.

The IEEE Smart Grid Web Portal is the first phase of IEEE Smart Grid, created to bring together IEEEÂ’s broad array of resources to provide expertise and guidance for those involved in Smart Grid worldwide.

“Contributions from across the global power and energy, communications and IT industries, as well as government and academia, are needed to ensure successful implementation of Smart Grid throughout the world. The IEEE Smart Grid Web Portal is designed to be an essential resource for anyone involved in Smart Grid, whatever their industry or technical discipline,” said Wanda Reder, 2008-09 president of the IEEE Power & Energy Society and chair of the IEEE Smart Grid Task Force.

“With our unmatched diversity of expertise, richness of programs and proven standards-development capability, IEEE is the obvious global entity to take on a unifying role in the global Smart Grid arena.”

The term “Smart Grid” refers to the next-generation, managed electrical power system that leverages increased use of communications and information technology in the generation, delivery and consumption of electrical energy. The new IEEE Smart Grid initiative will organize, coordinate, leverage and build upon the strength of various entities within and outside of IEEE with Smart Grid expertise and interest.

“The Smart Grid is a revolutionary undertaking, entailing new capabilities for communications and control, integration of new energy sources, distributed generation and adoption of a regulatory structure,” said Erich Gunther, Chairman and CTO with EnerNex and member of the Department of Energy (DOE) GridWise Architecture Council. “Successful roll-out requires a phenomenal diversity of expertise and experience, proven standards-development capability and shared vision.”

Added Steve Diamond, member of the IEEE Board of Directors and past president of the IEEE Computer Society: “Given its global representation across the technology spectrum, IEEE is ideally positioned to deliver thought leadership and coordination to Smart Grid.”