Smart grid investments expected to reach $275 billion

As more utility providers and government agencies invest in smart grids and related technologies, the need for high-quality terminal servers and related hardware will rise as well. With investments expected to reach $275 billion over the next 10 years, firms will need to start investing in adequate serial to Ethernet converters now to ensure their networks can handle the changes.

According to Renew Grid, the annual Emerging Markets Smart Grid: Outlook 2014 study, performed by Northeast Group, found that investments aimed at reducing electricity theft, improving reliability and incorporating renewable energy resources are a high priority for most emerging market countries, including Brazil, Russia, India and China. These investments are expected to reach $275 billion, outpacing developed countries and driving other trends, such as distribution automation.

"Large countries, such as India and Turkey, have provisional smart meter deployment targets, and new financing sources are developing," Ben Gardner, president of Northeast Group, noted in the report. "In 2013, the World Bank announced a $180 million smart metering project in Uzbekistan, the [European Bank for Reconstruction and Development] earmarked $251 million for smart grid investment in Poland and Brazil is completing a national financing program that could release over $1 billion in smart grid funding. Overall, Latin America, [Central and Eastern Europe] and [the Middle East and North Africa] represent large near-term opportunities, with India set to grow in the longer term."

Global smart grid investments are critical considerations for several reasons. First, they indicate a growing trend favoring sustainability and reliability in power distribution, and second, they demonstrate the drive toward smart meters and related technologies that help harness green energy and other efforts to clean up utilities and their impact on the planet. For power providers, investing in high-quality media converters and the other cabling and hardware solutions necessary to improve the transmission of both energy and data will be essential for keeping pace with this trend and meeting the expectations of consumers, who stand to benefit from these changes as well.

Smart grid deployments are an essential consideration for modern utility providers across the globe, and making the decision to opt in now will help improve operations and reduce costs immediately, allowing firms to better prepare for future energy demands.

Perle offers a range of cost effective serial-to-Ethernet converters to help meet NERC-CIP compliance for the protection of critical cyberassets in substations. The IOLAN SDS HV/LDC Terminal Server is designed to meet harsh environments associated with Power Substations with attributes such as support for substation AC and DC voltage ranges, extended operating temperatures and meeting emission, immunity and safety approvals associated with substation IT equipment.