Microsoft is boldly stepping up their smart grid game. Yesterday the company announced a second product for utilities nationwide, the Smart Energy Reference Architecture (SERA). As utilities gain stimulus funds for smart grid demonstration projects, technologies that aid in integrating data with utility protocol are in high demand. The ultimate goal is to achieve an “integrated utility” in which data can flow seamlessly from end-user to producer and vice versa, thereby optimizing the energy ecosystem.
Larry Cochrain, Worldwide Utilities Industry Technology Strategy at Microsoft, said in the press release that:
The Microsoft Smart Energy Reference Architecture represents our continuing commitment to our utility industry customers and our holistic vision of how the smart grid fits into the much larger energy ecosystem that’s evolving daily.
Like others operating in the growing sector, Microsoft is aware that utilities can’t bring us a smart grid all on their own. Software applications that facilitate the increased flow of data are key – this data is central to helping us better manage our electricity distribution and consumption.
SERA is Microsoft’s second punch in the smart grid arena. About four months ago, the software giant released Microsoft Hohm, an internet-based program aimed at improving the way residential consumers engage with electricity consumption. For more information about these two offerings from Microsoft, click here.
Readers, what do you think about Microsoft’s role in the smart grid arena?
