Date: 19/12/2008

Maxim and Sagem to develop power line comm. specs for EDF of France

Maxim Integrated Products has won a contract to define and develop a next-generation, powerline-communication (PLC) specification and solution for Electricité Réseau Distribution France (ERDF), a wholly owned subsidiary of the EDF (Electricité de France) Group. In partnership with Sagem Communications, Maxim will deliver an open PLC specification that facilitates the implementation of an automatic meter-management (AMM) infrastructure in France.

ERDF will deploy an automatic energy meter management infrastructure throughout France to manage its complete electricity supply chain-from electricity suppliers all the way to consumers. This infrastructure will enable two-way communication between meters, sensors, and switches using existing power lines, thus giving ERDF enhanced monitoring and control capabilities. It will also provide end-customers with greater visibility into their electricity usage and encourage demand-side management of electricity supplies. This advanced functionality will enable ERDF to deliver a new level of customer-centric services and promote energy conservation.

The successful completion of this project is expected to result in the replacement of more than 35 million meters and concentrators in France. Moreover, this implementation will function as a lighthouse project, illuminating the way for other countries as they renew their electricity-network infrastructure to meet the European Commission's energy mandates.

Since Europe's existing electricity-network infrastructure is inadequate to meet these energy and sustainability imperatives, Europe has commenced one of the largest infrastructure renewals in its history. Indeed, the International Energy Agency estimates that the EU will invest over 500 billion euros in infrastructure renewal by 2030.

Two-way communications will provide electricity-network operators with intelligent monitoring and control capabilities. Operators will be able to monitor electricity consumption throughout the grid in real time, implement variable tariff schedules, and set limits on electricity consumption to better manage peak loads.

In turn, consumers will have real-time visibility into their electricity consumption, thus promoting demand-side conservation. With the addition of variable tariff schedules, users will be encouraged to reduce electricity consumption during peak usage times.

Ultimately, intelligent network-management techniques provide a smarter solution for the environment. Rather than build more power plants to support worst-case scenarios (such as a week-long summer heat wave), network operators will be able to optimally utilize existing resources. At the same time, demand-side management will function as a form of indirect generation by better balancing the distribution of loads.

Communications Infrastructure Provides a Technology Platform for the Future

In the long term, this communications infrastructure will provide a basis for promoting distributed and renewable energy generation (e.g., wind and solar). To support the EU's SmartGrids initiative, the electricity network of the future will need to allow end-customers to harvest renewable energy and sell it back to the grid. Two-way communications represents the first stage of infrastructure development required for multiple players to exchange data and trade energy across Europe.