Echelon Corporation (NASDAQ:
ELON)
today announced that Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK),
the nations third-largest electric utility, will be the first customer
for its Edge
Control Node (ECN) 7000 series running the Echelon
Control System (ECoS) software platform. The announcement was made
at special event in New York City where Echelon introduced ECoS, a new
open software platform for intelligent distributed control, and the ECN
7000 series of products for the smart grid. Deployments of ECN field
trial units are expected to begin by the end of 2010, with shipments of
production units targeted for the second half of 2011. The initial
order, excluding ECN options, is for approximately $14.5 million.
“By making the low-voltage part of the grid nearest the user smarter,
the ECoS powered ECN 7000 series can help utilities address the
challenges brought on by increasing peak demand, the proliferation of
renewable energy sources, and the emergence of electric vehicles”
The challenge is to build a 21st century smart grid that is
more reliable, available and efficient than todays infrastructure to
empower our customers with new opportunities to reduce wasted energy and
save money, said Gianna Manes, Duke Energys chief customer
officer.Deploying digital technology with intelligent, distributed
management at the edge of the grid will make us even more responsive to
our customers needs.ECoS, the ECN 7000, and the ability to create and
manage apps for the smart grid is a significant step forward for the
industry and for Duke Energy.We are very excited about the potential of
this solution.
By making the low-voltage part of the grid nearest the user smarter,
the ECoS powered ECN 7000 series can help utilities address the
challenges brought on by increasing peak demand, the proliferation of
renewable energy sources, and the emergence of electric vehicles, said
Ron Sege, President and CEO of Echelon. Just as applications platforms
have transformed the mobile phone industry, we believe our open platform
is transformative and will empower our customers and partners to create
intelligent control solutions that were either impossible or
prohibitively expensive in the past. Duke Energy is an industry thought
leader and we are honored to have them as our first customer for this
groundbreaking platform.
Deliveries of the ECN 7000 for Duke Energys initial order are expected
to be completed by the middle of 2013. Orders for the ECN 7000 are under
the long-term
supply agreement entered into between Duke Energy and Echelon in
August of 2009, which gives Duke Energy the right to purchase products
for all of the territories it serves. Duke Energy provides electricity
service to approximately four million customers in five states North
Carolina, South Carolina, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky.
ECoS will run throughout the edge of the grid on the new ECN 7000 series
of open and extensible products. Built on Echelons 20 years of proven,
trusted and unmatched experience in control networking and software
innovation, ECoS provides an open and secure application framework for
monitoring and controlling devices at the edge of the grid - the
critical point where the distribution network connects to customers.
ECoS enables developers to easily build applications, or ECoS apps, to
make local, autonomous control decisions in near real-time for maximum
reliability, survivability and responsiveness. With investment in one
open platform, ECoS allows utilities to meet next generation demand
response challenges, optimize local grid efficiency, predict power
outages before they occur and rapidly restore service, and implement
other smart grid services.
For more information on todays platform and product announcement see http://www.echelon.com/press/2010/ecos_platform.htm.
Frequently asked questions about todays announcements can be found at http://www.echelon.com/press/2010/ecos_platform_faq.htm.
Read what other industry leaders such as Accenture, Badger, Capgemini,
Convergys, Coulomb, Duke Energy, eMeter, iControl, KEMA, Kinects,
Oracle, Plug Smart, S&C Electric, SEAS-NVE, Streetlight.Vision, Telvent,
Tollgrade, Vattenfall, and Verizon have to say about Echelons new
applications platform for distributed control at the edge of the grid.
Visit, http://www.echelon.com/smartgrid/ecos_testimonials.htm.
About Echelon Corporation
Echelon Corporation (NASDAQ:
ELON)
is leading the worldwide transformation of the electricity grid into a
smart, communicating energy network, connecting utilities to their
customers, enabling networking of everyday devices, and providing
customers with energy aware homes and businesses that react to
conditions on the grid.
Echelons Network Energy Services (NES) System powers the smart grid
with intelligent distributed control applications and devices that
deliver maximum reliability, survivability and responsiveness. Through
the Echelon Control System (ECoS) software platform, the NES system
enables any device, speaking any protocol, connected over any network to
be integrated into local decision making and connected securely to
enterprise IT systems through virtually any IP network. The NES System
helps utilities compete more effectively, reduce operating costs,
provide expanded services and help energy users manage and reduce
overall energy use.
Echelons LonWorks Infrastructure products extend the smart
grid in to smart buildings factories, homes and other systems, powering
tens of millions of energy aware, everyday devices made by thousands of
companies connecting them to each other, to the electricity grid and
to the Internet. LonWorks based products work together to monitor and
save energy; lower costs; improve productivity; and enhance service,
quality, safety, and convenience in utility, municipal, building,
industrial, transportation, and home area networks.
More information about Echelon can be found at http://www.echelon.com.
Echelon, LonWorks, and the Echelon logo are registered trademarks of
Echelon Corporation registered in the United States and other countries.
Other product or service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of
their respective owners.
This press release may contain statements relating to future plans,
events or performance. Such statements may involve risks and
uncertainties, including risks associated with uncertainties pertaining
to market acceptance of the Edge Control Node, including the ECoS
Software, and the timing and level of orders from Duke Energy as well as
other customers; risks that Edge Control Node, including the ECoS
Software, does not perform as designed and that liability may accrue as
a result; the risk that third parties will not become interested in
developing ECoS apps for the Edge Control Node that would expand the
market for this product; and other risks identified in Echelons SEC
filings. Actual results, events and performance may differ materially.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these
forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof.
Echelon undertakes no obligation to release publicly the result of any
revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to
reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the
occurrence of unanticipated events.
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Source: Business Wire