Via Freakonomics, an interesting article on the possibility of a rooftop solar “bubble” forming and the absence of a truly “smart market” for electricity generated by rooftop solar installations. As the report notes: Rooftop solar in California. (Photo: 4johnny5) Government efforts to boost affordability and expectations of unsustainably high investment returns generated a booming market […]
Read more »As frequent readers know, we have oft discussed the need for smart markets to underlie smart grids and smart meter deployments. Now, via The Financial Times, we have the hint of a potential smart market – albeit on a corporate vs. individual level and in the carbon space. But, that said, it is an intriguing […]
Read more »Via GigaOm Pro (subscription required), an interesting report on why the future of smart meters is data, not hardware. To observers of most technology and other sectors (e.g. computers, etc.) this realization of the primacy of software, content, data over hardware has long been understood. That said, the report is interesting in the comments it […]
Read more »Two interesting and contrasting articles looking at the challenges of motivating residential customers to engage and utilize the smart grid. The first echoes a theme we have long advocated: widespread acceptance of many smart grid applications will depend upon economical incentives. Smart markets anyone? The second presents a confusing viewpoint, summarized by Alex Laskey (president […]
Read more »Courtesy of ThomasNet News, a look at whether games and social media can help people change their energy behavior: Energy management offers obvious benefits to businesses and organizations, but retail electricity consumers seem harder to engage, even with smart-metering technologies and peak-load pricing incentives penetrating the market. The problem: Saving ten or fifteen dollars on […]
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