 | Issue: | Asia-Pacific II 2011 |
| Article no.: | 2 | |
| Topic: | Embedded connectivity for a smarter, greener world | |
| Author: | Per Simonsen | |
| Title: | CEO | |
| Organisation: | Telenor Connexion | |
| PDF size: | 705KB |
About author
Per Simonsen is the CEO of Telenor Connexion; he has been in the telecom industry for 20 years most of the time within the Telenor Group where he has held a number of leading positions and been instrumental in the group’s international expansion. Prior to taking on the position as CEO at Telenor Connexion, he served as Senior VP and Head of Group Strategy for the Telenor Group. Per Simonsen holds a Master in International Economics and Management from SDA Bocconi in Milan.
Article abstract
Wireless communication can enable smarter and more sustainable, ‘greener’, solutions in the world around us. With M2M, sensors built into things from the power grid to livestock collect and communicate data. This data can be analysed in real-time to, for example, dynamically control energy distribution and alleviate the rising loads on the grid. The transportation sector also faces major challenges. Interconnectivity between road infrastructure, cars, public transportation and people will pave the way for more efficient traffic management and safer roads.
Full Article
In 2007, for the first time in history the majority of the world’s population lived in cities. In 2010 there are 59 metropolitan areas with population greater than five million – up 50 per cent from 2001! This accelerating growth is, of course, posing enormous challenges for society and for infrastructure such as energy, transportation, water etc. How can we ensure sustainable development? We are now building mobile network infrastructures all across the world. In fact, mobile networks now cover more than 90 per cent of the world’s population. That means that one important piece of the puzzle for enabling more sustainable development is in place. Wireless communication can enable smarter and more sustainable solutions in the world around us – in buildings, vehicles, and infrastructure and so on. This development is based on three key fundamentals: • ‘Things’ are getting instrumented – sensors are built into all kinds of things, embedded in cars, pumps, meters, roads, buildings, even in livestock; • Secondly, these things are getting connected – meaning they can communicate – making different kind of data available; and • Thirdly, all this data can be turned into valuable data and insight in real-time through analysis in backend systems – things are getting smarter Another foundation for this development is the re-invention of the energy infrastructure into something much more effective, dynamic and flexible – the smart grid. Instead of relying on an energy infrastructure with little or no intelligence to balance loads or monitor peak flows, the smart grid can monitor and manage everything from the meter in the home to the turbines in the plants. A smarter grid can also be linked to thousands of power sources, including micro-generation wind and solar source much needed to cater for the rising energy consumption expected over the coming years. The connected smart grid will also give us insight, as individuals, into how to consume more efficiently and reduce consumption during peak hours. Moreover, utilities can better manage supply and demand and level-out peak demands. A connected and smarter grid, when combined with building automation systems, become even more powerful. Globally, buildings alone account for some 40 per cent of today’s energy usage – much of which is wasted. In a smart building, systems interoperate; thousands of sensors can monitor temperature, humidity, motion, light etc. and optimize energy usage based on this data. A smarter grid can steer supply and demand through the real-time pricing of electricity based upon overall network demand. An interconnected smart system can adapt in-real time by, for example slowly dimming the lighting by ten per cent during peak times, by resetting temperature by one degree based on real-time weather forecasts, and motion sensors can adjust lightning and ventilation to minimize energy consumption when offices are empty and so on. Various reports suggest that smart buildings could reduce CO2 emissions by as much as 50 to70 per cent and save 30 per cent to 50 per cent in water usage! Transportation is another sector that is facing major challenges, especially near the mega-cities emerging around the globe. Interconnectivity between road infrastructure, cars, public transportation and people will pave the way for more efficient traffic management and safer roads. In Stockholm, a dynamic toll system based on the flow of vehicles reduced traffic by 20 per cent and cut emissions by 12 per cent. In Singapore, controllers receive real-time data trough connected road sensors and can predict traffic scenarios with 90 per cent accuracy; this helps them to better steer traffic flows. Connected traffic infrastructure – roads, bridges, intersections, tolls etc – that monitor this type of information is vital to build tomorrow’s traffic systems that will be able to manage traffic flows better, reduce congestion and cut CO2 emissions. Electric and plug-in hybrid cars will also play an important role in tomorrow’s transportation systems. The International Energy Agency estimates that there will be around 20 million electric cars by 2020; of course, much depends upon technical development and consumer acceptance. ‘Range anxiety’ – the limited distance one can travel on a single charge and the lack of recharging infrastructure – is one of the main barriers keeping people from buying an electric car. New infrastructure (charging stations) and real-time information about availability, booking possibility and payment methods will be important factors for the success of the electric cars. Again, not only do we need a robust energy grid to charge millions of cars – the infrastructure also needs to communicate to the vehicle and driver the charging station status, bookings and payments etc. A smart system includes planning the trip based on real-time access to information about topology, temperature, weather, battery status – all of which are important things to know so one can organise a trip in function of where one can obtain a timely recharge. No one wants to be stuck on the highway with drained batteries. Minimizing this risk and anxiety will be imperative to ensure consumer adoption of electric cars – and connected technologies will play an important role. Up until today, much of embedded connectivity development has focused on machine-to-machine communications and connected things. But, let’s not forget about people – people that drive the cars, live in the buildings, consume the energy and so on. Smart connected systems will also enable end-users and consumers to take greater responsibility. Combined with more Internet and smart phone penetration, people will have the power to act through smart and purpose built apps. For example Nissan Leaf has launched an iPhone app that gives the user full control over battery status and to remotely control the charging of the car. In the future, car batteries charging on the smart grid can – with the owner’s approval – provide extra capacity to enable the grid to level out peaks, Users will receive suggestions for low cost charging and receive refunds when their car battery capacity is used while parked and payment for battery charging will be processed directly over ones phone etc. In short, connectivity will provide digital, and electrical, power to the consumers. The smart energy meter will make it easier for people to choose to use energy at non peak-times and will let users feed energy back into the power grid from their own solar or wind sources. In the smart home, we will (based on real-time pricing) be able to steer appliances remotely using a smart-phone app to avoid peak-hours. Heating pumps will be remotely managed making use of other web resources such as weather forecasts – if the forecast predicts a blue sky I’d rather let the sun work for me than the heating pump. The world of industrial M2M is now fast moving from technology push towards value creation and services – inbuilt apps in devices and smart phones will play an important role here. It also means that the opportunity of embedded connectivity will become more visible and open up for wider acceptance and understanding by individuals, industries and countries. So far, we have only seen the beginning but, no doubt, connectivity will be one of the cornerstones for a more sustainable development.
