Accenture to Expand Smart Grid Operations and Energy Trading and Risk Management Services Through Acquisition of Structure

From Accenture:

January 06, 2015

Accenture to Expand Smart Grid Operations and Energy Trading and Risk Management Services Through Acquisition of Structure

HOUSTON; Jan. 6, 2014 – Accenture (NYSE:ACN) has entered into an agreement to acquire Structure, a provider of consulting, system integration and customized solutions and services to energy and utilities clients. The transaction will expand and enhance Accenture’s deep experience and capabilities in smart grid solutions, especially grid operations, as well as energy commodity trading and risk management (CTRM).

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed, and the acquisition is subject to regulatory review and other customary closing conditions.

“Bringing together two very similar cultures with deep skills in the utilities and energy industries reinforces our ability to help our clients solve some of the most complex and critical challenges that lie at the heart of the digital transformation,” said Omar Abbosh, senior managing director, Accenture Resources operating group. “Structure’s capabilities in grid operations and power systems engineering, combined with Accenture’s global strengths in information technology (IT), will provide our clients with comprehensive end-to-end solutions and services to support the integration of operational technologies with IT systems, forging a path toward a smarter, more digital grid.

“This includes the deployment of advanced distribution management systems and automation solutions, as well as improved outage management and grid analytics. We also plan to combine Structure’s market operations and commodities trading services with Accenture’s capabilities in digital asset management to help our clients optimize their commercial positions.”

Structure has been consistently recognized in its field since 2010 with more than a dozen industry awards for growth, advisory services and solutions that make utilities and energy clients’ transformational strategies achievable.

“Joining forces with Accenture will provide our clients and our employees with a unique opportunity to extend our capabilities to offer critical business solutions on a global scale,” said Lelon Winstead, Structure managing partner.  “We believe Structure’s end-to-end expertise in smart grid, commodities trading and market operations aligns well with Accenture’s grid operations and energy commodities trading businesses. Accenture is a strong strategic fit with our offerings, presence and capabilities in a very complementary manner. We share very similar company cultures focused on delivery excellence, strong client relations and deep industry experience and specialization.”

Founded in 1998, Structure is based in Houston. Its more than 190 employees will operate within Accenture’s Resources operating group.

About Accenture
Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company, with approximately 319,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries. Combining unparalleled experience, comprehensive capabilities across all industries and business functions, and extensive research on the world’s most successful companies, Accenture collaborates with clients to help them become high-performance businesses and governments. The company generated net revenues of US$30.0 billion for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2014. Its home page is www.accenture.com.

About Structure
Structure is a leading provider of business advisory, system integration and customized solution development services focused exclusively on the energy and utilities industries. Structure relies on deep industry expertise and proven methodologies to deliver energy technology platforms for the next generation across Energy Trading and Risk Management, Smart Grid / Distribution Operations / Distribution Automation, SCADA and Energy Management Systems, and Competitive Energy Market Solutions. Its website is: www.thestructuregroup.com.

Forward Looking Statements
Except for the historical information and discussions contained herein, statements in this news release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “likely,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “believes,” “estimates,” “positioned,” “outlook” and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. These include, without limitation, risks that: the company and Structure will not be able to close the transaction in the time period anticipated, or at all, which is dependent on the parties’ ability to satisfy certain closing conditions; the transaction might not achieve the anticipated benefits for the company; the company’s results of operations could be adversely affected by volatile, negative or uncertain economic conditions and the effects of these conditions on the company’s clients’ businesses and levels of business activity; the company’s business depends on generating and maintaining ongoing, profitable client demand for the company’s services and solutions, and a significant reduction in such demand could materially affect the company’s results of operations; if the company is unable to keep its supply of skills and resources in balance with client demand around the world and attract and retain professionals with strong leadership skills, the company’s business, the utilization rate of the company’s professionals and the company’s results of operations may be materially adversely affected; the markets in which the company competes are highly competitive, and the company might not be able to compete effectively; the company could have liability or the company’s reputation could be damaged if the company fails to protect client and/or company data or information systems as obligated by law or contract or if the company’s information systems are breached; the company’s results of operations and ability to grow could be materially negatively affected if the company cannot adapt and expand its services and solutions in response to ongoing changes in technology and offerings by new entrants; the company’s results of operations could materially suffer if the company is not able to obtain sufficient pricing to enable it to meet its profitability expectations; if the company does not accurately anticipate the cost, risk and complexity of performing its work or if the third parties upon whom it relies do not meet their commitments, then the company’s contracts could have delivery inefficiencies and be less profitable than expected or unprofitable; the company’s results of operations could be materially adversely affected by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; the company’s profitability could suffer if its cost-management strategies are unsuccessful, and the company may not be able to improve its profitability through improvements to cost-management to the degree it has done in the past; the company’s business could be materially adversely affected if the company incurs legal liability; the company’s work with government clients exposes the company to additional risks inherent in the government contracting environment; the company might not be successful at identifying, acquiring or integrating businesses or entering into joint ventures; the company’s Global Delivery Network is increasingly concentrated in India and the Philippines, which may expose it to operational risks; changes in the company’s level of taxes, as well as audits, investigations and tax proceedings, or changes in the company’s treatment as an Irish company, could have a material adverse effect on the company’s results of operations and financial condition; as a result of the company’s geographically diverse operations and its growth strategy to continue geographic expansion, the company is more susceptible to certain risks; adverse changes to the company’s relationships with key alliance partners or in the business of its key alliance partners could adversely affect the company’s results of operations; the company’s services or solutions could infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others or the company might lose its ability to utilize the intellectual property of others; if the company is unable to protect its intellectual property rights from unauthorized use or infringement by third parties, its business could be adversely affected; the company’s ability to attract and retain business and employees may depend on its reputation in the marketplace; many of the company’s contracts include payments that link some of its fees to the attainment of performance or business targets and/or require the company to meet specific service levels, which could increase the variability of the company’s revenues and impact its margins; if the company is unable to collect its receivables or unbilled services, the company’s results of operations, financial condition and cash flows could be adversely affected; if the company is unable to manage the organizational challenges associated with its size, the company might be unable to achieve its business objectives; the company’s share price and results of operations could fluctuate and be difficult to predict; the company’s results of operations and share price could be adversely affected if it is unable to maintain effective internal controls; any changes to the estimates and assumptions that the company makes in connection with the preparation of its consolidated financial statements could adversely affect its financial results; the company may be subject to criticism and negative publicity related to its incorporation in Ireland; as well as the risks, uncertainties and other factors discussed under the “Risk Factors” heading in Accenture plc’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and other documents filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Statements in this news release speak only as of the date they were made, and Accenture undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statements made in this news release or to conform such statements to actual results or changes in Accenture’s expectations.
 

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GE Introduces 1.85-82.5 Wind Turbine for Brazil’s Promising Wind Energy Sector

Press release from General Electric:

30 August 2012

GE Introduces 1.85-82.5 Wind Turbine for Brazil’s Promising Wind Energy Sector

 

• Newest Wind Turbine is Latest Evolution of GE Technology, Proven in Applications Worldwide
• Key Features Make the Technology a Fit for Brazil’s Demanding Wind Regimes
• Offers 8 Percent Increase in Annual Energy Production

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL—August 30, 2012—GE (NYSE: GE) is introducing a wind turbine designed to meet the wind conditions in Brazil, one of the world’s most promising markets for onshore wind energy development. GE, North America’s leading wind turbine supplier, is featuring its new 1.85-82.5 wind turbine at the Brazil Windpower Conference in Rio de Janeiro, August 29-31.

The 1.85-82.5 wind turbine, which is IEC-certified for higher wind speed sites or environments, is the latest evolution of GE’s wind turbine technology and builds upon the vast and diverse experience of GE’s installed fleet of 18,000 wind turbines worldwide. The new turbine offers an 8 percent increase in annual energy production (AEP) at 9 m/s, which drives improved project economics for wind developers in higher wind regime sites.

GE’s proprietary Advanced Loads Control allows siting of the 82.5-meter rotor in more aggressive wind regimes, combining drive train sensors and capabilities of the Mark* Vle controller to individually pitch blades and improve load-handling performance. A sophisticated set of grid-friendly features will enable operators to meet stringent grid requirements in 60-hertz regions.

“With the introduction of the 1.85-82.5 wind turbine, we continue to advance our 1.5-megawatt class wind turbine product line, which has been proven in a wide range of wind regimes worldwide,” said Victor Abate, vice president of renewable energy at GE. “Focusing on performance, reliability, efficiency and multi-generational product evolution, the 1.85-82.5 is designed for Brazil’s growing wind energy requirements.”

GE technology already is well established in Brazil, with 300 GE wind turbines now installed in the country. Last year, GE secured agreements to supply wind and gas turbines for projects in Brazil that will produce 1.4 gigawatts of electricity—40 percent of the total amount awarded in energy auctions conducted by Brazil’s National Electric Power Agency. At AWEA Windpower 2012, GE announced that the Miassaba 2 and Aratua 1 wind farms, developed and implemented by Bioenergy, a pioneer in clean energy in Brazil, were the first projects in Latin America to enter operation with GE wind turbines.

About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com.

GE Celebrates 300 Wind Turbines Installed in Brazil

Press release from General Electric:

30 August 2012

GE Celebrates 300 Wind Turbines Installed in Brazil

 

• Brazil Installations Projected to Double over next Two Years
• GE Service Centers to Open in Rio Grande do Norte and Bahia, Employing 100 Technicians
• Best Producing Fleet in the Industry Exceeds Performance Expectations

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL—August 30, 2012—GE (NYSE: GE), which this year is celebrating its 10^th anniversary in the wind industry, today announced that it has installed 300 wind turbines in Brazil. Over the next two years, GE will install more than 600 additional units in Brazil as it continues to grow in the region, the company reported at the Brazil Windpower Conference in Rio de Janeiro.

As the GE fleet expands, the company also is announcing its plans to open two local service centers by 2014, representing a $1.5 million investment in Brazil. The service centers will employ more than 100 service technicians and be located in Rio Grande do Norte and Bahia.

GE’s commitment to quality execution is its number one priority. “Execution is a differentiator for GE,” says Jean-Claude Robert, general manager of Latin America for GE’s renewable energy business. “We have delivered all of our projects on schedule, which allows our customers to meet their PPA requirements.”

Designing a product specifically for Brazil’s wind speeds has been a key investment for the region, and today GE announces its 1.85-82.5 turbine, which is based on GE’s proven 1.5-megawatt (MW) platform. Part of its $2 billion investment in renewable energy, GE’s 1.85-82.5 is designed to meet or exceed the historic 98.5 percent availability of the 1.5-MW platform and help improve project economics in higher wind regime sites by requiring fewer turbines per wind farm.

Wind power is the fastest growing source of power generation in Brazil.The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) reports that the Brazilian wind sector installed 583 MW in 2011, bringing the country’s installed capacity up to more than 1,500 MW, an increase of 63 percent. The GWEC has identified Brazil as one of the world’s most promising onshore markets for wind energy for at least the next five years.

GE has been active in Brazil for more than 90 years and opened its wind energy office in Sao Paulo in 2009. The local team leverages GE’s global expertise of engineers, field service technicians and logistics excellence to ensure the highest quality and strongest execution is on point for customers in Brazil.

About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com.

Follow GE’s renewable energy business on Twitter @GErenewables.

Press release:

Lockheed Martin to Integrate Fuel Cells, Solar Power for Military Applications Under Contract with Office of Naval Research

AKRON, Ohio – Aug. 8, 2012 – Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] secured a contract with the Office of Naval Research for the design and development of solid oxide fuel cell generator sets as an alternative to traditional battlefield power generation equipment. Lockheed Martin’s fuel cell technology will be integrated with solar panels, providing the military with the power needed to perform missions while using dramatically less fuel.

At the end of the 32-month development program, Lockheed Martin will demonstrate and deliver a multi-kilowatt JP-8 compatible Fuel Cell Efficient Power Node for evaluation by the U.S. Marines. The goal of the approximately $3 million dollar contract is to reduce overall fuel usage required for tactical electrical generation by 50 percent or more.

More than 100,000 military generators are used worldwide to power services from lighting and air conditioning to computers, radios, and command and control systems. Solid oxide fuel cells convert fuel into electricity using a chemical reaction that is 30 to 50 percent more efficient than the combustion engines used in diesel generators, which are the largest consumers of fuel on the battlefield today. Because fuel cells require less fuel to create the same amount of power, they offer the potential to save billions of dollars in operational costs and to reduce the number of military casualties that are directly related to the delivery of fuel.

“Lockheed Martin shares the U.S. Department of Defense’s top goals of increasing the safety of our troops and reducing operational costs,” said Dan Heller, vice president of new ventures for Lockheed Martin Mission Systems & Sensors. “Alternative energy solutions, such as the fuel cell we are developing for the Office of Naval Research, can help mitigate these challenges, advancing the strength and flexibility of our military operating in some of the world’s toughest conditions.”

Lockheed Martin is working with Cleveland-based TMI to mature the fuel cell technology. In addition to Lockheed Martin-funded research and development, this team has received competitive grants from the Ohio Third Frontier, a program committed to creating new technology-based products, companies, industries and jobs. In 2011, Lockheed Martin became the first company to continuously operate a solid oxide fuel cell generator set for over one thousand hours on standard DoD-supplied JP-8, and remains the only company to do so to date.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs about 120,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation's net sales for 2011 were $46.5 billion.

GE Partners with Excelsior College to Launch Renewable Energy Technology College Credits-for-Work Experience Program

Press release:

07 August 2012

GE Partners with Excelsior College to Launch Renewable Energy Technology College Credits-for-Work Experience Program

 

• GE Employees Eligible to Receive up to Nearly 50 College Credits for Completing Wind Technician Certification Program
• Technicians Train on Wind Turbine Components at GE’s Energy Learning Center
• Excelsior College Adds Renewable Energy Technology Concentration to Bachelor’s Degree Program
• Initiative Highlights U.S. Energy Industry Efforts to Recruit, Train and Retain New Workers

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. —August 7, 2012—Citing the need to recruit and train a larger, educated workforce to support the global expansion of renewable energy, GE (NYSE: GE) and Excelsior College today announced that GE employees can receive up to nearly 50 college credits from the college for completing the company’s intensive renewable energy services training program.

To earn GE’s Lead Certification Standard, technicians must complete more than 500 hours of classroom, online and practical, hands-on field training on wind turbine components at GE’s Energy Learning Center (ELC) in Schenectady, N.Y., where GE’s renewable energy business is headquartered.

At the ELC, technicians are trained—with a strong focus on safety—to inspect and repair actual GE wind turbine components, including the nacelle, which is installed atop a 200-foot steel tower and houses the wind turbine’s generating equipment.

Technicians who complete the certification program now are eligible to earn up to 49 credit hours for their work experience through Excelsior College, the leading nonprofit, regionally accredited distance education institution in the nation.

Excelsior College has created a new concentration in Renewable Energy Technologies within the school’s Bachelor of Professional Studies in Technology Management program. The general public is eligible to register for this concentration starting August 8, 2012. GE’s technicians also may apply their college credits to the new degree concentration.

“Excelsior College recognizes the future of adult education will be increasingly aligned with the needs of businesses and workers alike, including the energy industry,” said Excelsior College President Dr. John F. Ebersole. “We are pleased to partner with GE on our new renewable energy area of focus within our Bachelor of Professional Studies program and reach a new segment of the competitive adult education population.”

Travis Anderson is one of the first GE service technicians to enroll in the Excelsior College program. Anderson, GE’s site lead at the Blue Canyon Wind Farm in Oklahoma, has worked at wind farm sites using GE turbines for five years. After helping develop the process that enabled GE technicians to participate in the Excelsior College program, he enrolled himself and is eligible to receive 48 credits.

“The renewable energy college credits program with Excelsior College is important to us as GE employees because it recognizes the value of our training and rewards us for our classroom and practical work experience,” Anderson said.

The quality and thoroughness of GE’s certification program is a significant differentiator for GE’s renewables services business. The Energy Learning Center also offers one of the most comprehensive array of training classes in the energy industry.

“Offering our employees the opportunity to earn college credits for completing our Wind Technician Certification Program not only enhances the value of our products and services, but it also enables GE to compete for—and retain—the skilled workers we need to support our globally installed base of wind turbines,” said Andy Holt, general manager—renewable energy services for GE Power & Water.

The Excelsior College program marks the first time GE has partnered with a U.S. college to award credits to its renewable energy technicians for their work experience. GE has forged relationships with a number of other U.S. colleges and universities—including Union Graduate College in Schenectady—in complementary fields as the energy industry seeks to recruit and train new engineers and technicians as employees from the “Baby Boomer” era retire.

About Excelsior College
Excelsior College is a regionally accredited, nonprofit distance learning institution that focuses on removing obstacles to the educational goals of adult learners. Founded in 1971 and located in Albany, NY, Excelsior is a proven leader in the assessment and validation of student knowledge. It offers more efficient and affordable access to degree completion through multiple avenues: its own online courses and college-level proficiency examinations, and the acceptance in transfer of credit from other colleges and universities as well as recognized corporate and military training programs. Excelsior College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Excelsior’s bachelor’s degrees in electrical engineering technology and nuclear engineering technology are accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET, a specialized accrediting agency recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com.

GE Energy works connecting people and ideas everywhere to create advanced technologies for powering a cleaner, more productive world. With more than 100,000 employees in over 100 countries, our diverse portfolio of product and service solutions and deep industry expertise help our customers solve their challenges locally. We serve the energy sector with technologies in such areas as natural gas, oil, coal and nuclear energy; wind, solar, biogas and water processing; energy management; and grid modernization. We also offer integrated solutions to serve energy and water-intensive industries such as mining, metals, marine, petrochemical, food and beverage and unconventional fuels.

Follow GE Renewable Energy on Twitter at @GErenewables

Providing Capital and Technology, GE Advances Partnership with Enel Green Power to Build One of Minnesota’s Largest Wind Farms

Press release:

06 August 2012

Providing Capital and Technology, GE Advances Partnership with Enel Green Power to Build One of Minnesota’s Largest Wind Farms

 

HARDWICK, Minn., Aug 6, 2012 – Expanding its partnership with global renewable energy company Enel Green Power, GE (NYSE: GE) unit GE Energy Financial Services has committed approximately $156 million in common equity for one of Minnesota’s largest wind farms, using GE turbines.

The GE unit now owns 51 percent of the 200-megawatt Prairie Rose wind project under construction in southern Minnesota. Enel Green Power North America, a subsidiary of Enel Green Power, committed approximately $149 million for a 49 percent ownership stake and serves as project manager. In addition to capital, GE signed an agreement last year with Enel Green Power North America to supply 119 of GE’s 1.68-megawatt wind turbines for the project.

The GE unit and Enel Green Power North America also raised approximately $190 million in tax equity to be provided by a syndicate led by J. P. Morgan, which includes Wells Fargo Wind Holdings LLC and Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. The tax equity will be funded at project completion and will reduce both GE Energy Financial Services’ and Enel Green Power North America’s ownership stakes in the wind farm.

“This transaction showcases GE’s ability to provide both world-class technology and flexible financing structures for our customers and advances our long-term partnership with Enel Green Power, an established renewable energy leader,” said Kevin Walsh, Managing Director of Power and Renewable Energy at GE Energy Financial Services.

The project, which is expected to cost approximately $305 million, is located near Hardwick, northwest of Luverne. Construction, managed by Minneapolis-based Mortenson Construction, is expected to be completed later this year. The wind farm will supply all of its power to Northern States Power Company, a subsidiary of Xcel Energy, under a 20-year contract. Enel Green Power North America will have the option to purchase up to an additional 26 percent ownership stake from the GE unit later in 2012 and in 2013.

The benefits of the wind project are wide-ranging. The project’s Edina-based developer and Enel Green Power’s strategic partner, Geronimo Wind Energy, estimates that the wind farm will create approximately 300 construction jobs, contribute about $850,000 annually in new county and township taxes and create about a dozen permanent jobs. Prairie Rose is expected to generate enough electricity to power 75,000 homes and displace approximately 650,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year – equivalent to taking approximately 130,000 cars off the road – according to US Environmental Protection Agency methodology. In addition, the wind farm will help Minnesota meet its mandate to generate 25 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2025.

This transaction expands GE Energy Financial Services’ and Enel Green Power North America’s portfolio of co-owned wind projects. In April, the companies invested in the 235-megawatt Chisholm View wind project under construction near Hunter, Oklahoma, which also will use GE wind turbines. The GE unit and Enel Green Power North America also invested in the 101-megawatt Smoky Hills wind farm in Kansas and the 63-megawatt Snyder wind farm in Texas.

GE Energy Financial Services’ global wind portfolio now comprises equity and debt financings for projects spanning 17 US states and four other countries totaling 9.9 gigawatts in operation or under construction. GE Energy Financial Services’ wind investing supports GE’s broader ecomagination strategy to create value for customers by solving energy, efficiency and water challenges.

About GE Energy Financial Services
GE Energy Financial Services’ experts invest globally across the capital spectrum in essential, long-lived, and capital-intensive energy assets that meet the world’s energy needs. In addition to capital, GE Energy Financial Services offers the best of GE’s technical know-how, technology innovation, financial strength, and rigorous risk management. Based in Stamford, Connecticut, the GE business unit helps its customers and GE grow through new investments, strong partnerships, and optimization of its approximately $20 billion in assets. For more information, visitwww.geenergyfinancialservices.com.

About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com.

Press release:

IBM Smart Building Technology to Increase U.S. Federal Buildings Energy Efficiency

Innovative smart building systems to be installed initially in 50 government buildings, has estimated annual savings of $15 million
        

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WASHINGTON, D.C. and Armonk, N.Y. - 21 May 2012: The U.S. General Services Administration has awarded a contract to IBM (NYSE: IBM) to develop and install advanced smart building technology in 50 of the federal government’s highest energy-consuming buildings. Part of GSA’s larger smart building strategy, this initiative will connect building management systems to a central cloud based platform, improving efficiency and saving up to $15 million in taxpayer dollars annually.

Commercial buildings account for nearly 40% of the United State’s primary energy use and GSA owns nearly 182 million square feet of office space nationwide. GSA's plan to meet the requirements of President Obama’s Executive Order 13514 includes a goal of reducing energy consumption in federal buildings by 30% by 2015.

Under the terms of the contract, IBM will develop a system to monitor building performance nationwide and stream data to a central facility, allowing faster analysis and more informed decision-making. This project uses innovative building management technology, linking major building controls in real-time to make federal buildings more energy efficient. When fully implemented, GSA will use newly available data and analytics to save energy and reduce building operating costs in GSA’s entire owned inventory.

“The development of this industry-leading smart building system begins a new era in how GSA manages our nation’s public buildings and will prove the feasibility of this technology for the larger industry,” said GSA Acting Public Buildings Commissioner Linda Chero. “This program connects existing building technologies in new ways to improve building efficiency in over 32 million square feet of real estate. Awarding this contract benefits taxpayers, as it will reduce maintenance and operating costs of the federal building portfolio -- saving taxpayers an estimated $15 million annually.”

When the system is fully integrated, tenants will be able to view the performance of their buildings on dashboards with real time metrics on energy savings and recommendations on how to further increase efficiencies. In the first year, 50 buildings will be integrated on this building management system. As additional federal buildings are constructed and other facilities are upgraded, those buildings will also be managed with this platform. The new technology will give property managers real time information and diagnostic tools to keep buildings performing at peak efficiency, increasing cost savings across the federal building portfolio.

“We are at a tipping point in terms of advancing the greening of our buildings and making them smarter,” said IBM Vice President of Industry Solutions Dave Bartlett.  “When you look at buildings holistically, with end-to-end visibility across all systems,  you can more clearly see the connections, the interactions, and opportunities for efficiency among the various systems.  Using analytics, we can make better decisions about how to best visualize and optimize these systems.  The data exists – it's a matter of understanding and responding to what the data is telling us, and that's what we're helping GSA to do.”

For additional information on GSA’s smart building efforts, visit:  http://www.gsa.gov/portal/category/100731

For more information on IBM Smarter Buildings, visit: www.ibm.com/smarterplanet/buildings

IBM Team Finds Innovative Use of Technology Could Ease Nairobi’s Traffic Jams

Execution of identified projects could help relieve city gridlock within 90 days of implementation

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NAIROBI, Kenya - 11 May 2012: A team of IBM (NYSE:IBM) top experts assigned to Nairobi today provided a cohesive framework and roadmap to the city to improve the flow of road traffic and increase revenues from the transportation sector.

The recommendations complement Nairobi's considerable ongoing investment in underlying roadway infrastructure.  They include making traffic information more readily available to citizens, motorists, police, policymakers and planners so that better transportation decisions can be made in the near and far term.  

The blueprint presented by the IBM team also includes suggestions for using available technologies, including mobile phones, sensors and closed-circuit television, to more automatically pinpoint traffic issues.  In the recommended plan, parking and licensing would also be digitized and automated -- streamlining bureaucratic processes and increasing citizen satisfaction.  The plan prescribes enhanced collaboration between various transport bodies.

The IBM team, which performed several months of preparation before spending three weeks in local residence, studied Nairobi’s transportation system as part of an IBM Smarter Cities Challenge grant valued at Sh33 million (US$400,000), announced in March of this year.   

“A city is a system of systems.  One key finding of the study is that technology could provide a relatively simple way of bringing together existing systems to streamline the city’s transport sector and increase revenues for the government,” said Tony Mwai, Country General Manager, IBM East Africa.

Despite impressive investments in building road networks, inefficiencies within the city's transport sector cost Nairobi an estimated Sh50 million per day, negating revenues and commercial benefits from otherwise significant road infrastructure, and limiting the region’s economic growth. 

“The government has made immense investments in infrastructure over the last 10 years but we are challenged by the fact that many departments within government are working in isolation and not collaborating,” said Dr. Bitange Ndemo, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Communications. 

“We will review these recommendations made by the IBM team with a view to fast-tracking them to help maintain Nairobi’s position as a key regional economic hub,” Dr. Ndemo said.

Intelligent Transport Solutions

The team of IBM consultants recommended the creation of a cross-departmental Smarter Transportation Authority that would harness initiatives taking place across government agencies under a single unit. 

This would allow for faster rollout of decongestion plans, enhancing revenue collection for government agencies and tightening enforcement of traffic rules. 

In addition, the IBM consultants advised the development of a Smarter Transportation Platform with an intelligent operations command center, leveraging existing and new closed-circuit television networks that show vehicle, traffic and roadway conditions as events unfold.

Enabling stakeholders such as citizens and police to view these video feeds online would lead to a decrease in traffic congestion by allowing commuters to plan their trips accordingly and police to allocate manpower more efficiently.

Another suggestion was to integrate data from multiple sources, including mobile phone signals generated from citizens stuck in traffic jams, to pin-point traffic hot-spots.  Analytics software could then be used to predict future flow issues, pushing the information needed to re-direct traffic to the intelligent operations center. 

The team also suggested digitizing parking for the speed and ease of finding parking spaces, to minimize congestion and to reduce environmental impact as well as using mobile devices to empower traffic police to monitor and manage traffic offenders through an intelligent enforcement solution.

The team’s findings follow the recent launch of an IBM research report titled "A Vision of a Smarter City: How Nairobi Can Lead the Way into a Prosperous and Sustainable Future," which highlights transportation, energy and public safety as three critical areas that the city must address in order to boost its economic competitiveness.

Smarter Cites Challenge

Nairobi beat 140 other cities around the world to become one of IBM’s Smarter Cities Challenge winners in March.  Launched in 2011, the IBM initiative is a three-year, 100-city US $50 million program and is IBM's single-largest philanthropic outreach.

Along with the deployment of a specialist team of expert consultants who focus on the city’s primary challenge, IBM provides special assistance to each winning city on the use of City Forward (http://www.cityforward.org), a free online site IBM created with public policy experts.  Citizens, elected officials and urban planners can use the site to explore trends and statistics in a visual and accessible way, which can be adapted for the examination of any number of urban issues -- leading to better decision making.

“Nairobi demonstrated a desire to set an example for other municipalities, an eagerness to collaborate with multiple stakeholders, and a strong commitment to consider implementing recommendations the city felt would be the most feasible and beneficial to its residents." said Stanley S. Litow, IBM vice president of Corporate Citizenship & Corporate Affairs, and President of IBM's Foundation.

To find out more about IBM Smarter Cities Challenge grants, please visithttp://smartercitieschallenge.org/  and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sJ_3H0K3zo

For more information about IBM's philanthropic initiatives, please visit www.citizenibm.com.

Northrop Grumman Announces Significant Achievements in Environmental Sustainability, Diversity & Inclusion and Community Engagement

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Northrop Grumman Announces Significant Achievements in Environmental Sustainability, Diversity & Inclusion and Community Engagement Company Releases 2011 Corporate Responsibility Report

FALLS CHURCH, Va., May 8, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has released its 2011 Corporate Responsibility Report (CRR), a comprehensive publication that highlights the company's ongoing commitment to corporate responsibility, including environment sustainability, support for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education, community service, corporate philanthropy and employee volunteerism, among other activities. It is the fifth year the company has published this report. "At Northrop Grumman, responsibility is at the forefront of everything we do. It exists in the way we serve our customers, our employees, our shareholders, the communities where we live and operate, and our business partners," said Wes Bush, chairman, chief executive officer and president. "In all that we are doing to position our company for continued success, corporate responsibility is central–a key component of the value of performance we provide to all of our stakeholders." The report also details several aspects of the company's corporate responsibility mission, including ethics leadership and governance; inclusion and diversity in the workplace; supply chain management; community partnerships; support for education; commitment to our troops and military families; and environmental, health and safety stewardship. "Corporate responsibility has been a long-standing commitment and is very important for Northrop Grumman's business and operating strategies," said Sandra Evers-Manly, vice president of Corporate Responsibility. "As we continue to grow as a company, we remain focused on maintaining the highest of ethical standards, embracing diversity and becoming an ideal corporate citizen of the environment and of our communities. This report highlights the company's range of activities, and our continuing growth as a socially conscious enterprise." Northrop Grumman's CRR is available online at: http://www.northropgrumman.com/corporate-responsibility/reports/index.html. Here are some key highlights: Northrop Grumman's performance in environmental sustainability produced several important outcomes in 2011  Northrop Grumman's score from the Carbon Disclosure Project has improved from 42 in 2009 to 80 (out of a top score of 100) in 2011. The company's greenhouse gas reduction performance has been ahead of plan and continues to be a primary objective of its sustainability strategy. The company rose from #337 in 2009 to #51 in Newsweek magazine's 2011 comprehensive environmental ranking of the 500 largest American businesses.  Computerworld magazine ranked Northrop Grumman #7 in its list of top 12 Green IT organizations in 2011, moving up from #11 in 2010. For commitment to a diverse and inclusive workforce, and supply chain, the company has been recognized by several organizations Ranked #37 among Top 50 Companies in Diversity by DiversityInc magazine. Ranked #2 among Top 50 Employers by Minority Engineer magazine. Ranked #3 in the Top 50 for positive working environment for members of minority groups by Minority Engineer. Ranked Top 3 most admired companies for minority engineers by Black Engineer magazine. Ranked Top 100 corporations for providing opportunities for Hispanics by Hispanic Network magazine. Ranked #9 as best employer for graduating engineers by Black Collegiate magazine. Ranked #7 Top 50 for "Multicultural Business Opportunities for 2011" by DiversityBusiness.com. Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information.

Honeywell Opens New Interactive Technology Experience Center In China

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5/8/2012

Honeywell Opens New Interactive Technology Experience Center In China

Visitors to Learn How Honeywell's Technologies Are Helping to Solve Some of The World’s Biggest Challenges such as Energy Efficiency, Energy Generation, Safety and Security  SHANGHAI, May 8, 2012 – Honeywell (NYSE: HON) today opened its largest technology experience center, an immersive experience for customers and visitors to interact with technologies that make communities in China safer and more secure, more comfortable and energy efficient, more innovative and productive. Located in Honeywell's Asia Pacific headquarters at Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park in Shanghai, the Honeywell Technology Experience underscores the company's commitment to China, its fastest growing market. Honeywell’s total sales revenue in China reached approximately U.S. $1.9 billion in 2011, or a 20% growth over 2010. The Honeywell Technology Experience features a flight simulator, an interactive cityscape, and a modern home equipped with smart home technologies. Visitors can take the controls of a modern jet and perform a virtual take-off, hold a 3-D turbocharger, watch how an industrial control room manages an emergency, enter a modern home to see Honeywell controls that manage everything from lighting and water systems, to intrusion detection and temperature. A “barrel of oil” exhibit demonstrates how to squeeze more high value products from crude oil and how to produce green energy using Honeywell’s refining technologies. The Center is divided into six neighborhoods: transportation; industry; commercial; home; energy, and a community area where visitors can see how Honeywell is connecting directly with its local hometowns, through its science and math education; housing and shelter; family safety and security; habitat and conservation; and humanitarian relief efforts as part of its Honeywell Hometown Solutions corporate social responsibilities. “Globalization, especially in High Growth Regions like China, has been key to our Growth for the past decade. Today, about 55% of our sales come from outside the U.S., making Honeywell a truly global company. China represents a significant share of our global growth story, and I see this new Honeywell Technology Experience as a symbol of our commitment to China, one of our biggest and fastest growing markets,” said Shane Tedjarati, president and CEO of Honeywell High Growth Regions at the grand opening ceremony. “With this new center, we’ve created a powerful tool to help our China team engage our customers and partners in China and in high growth regions like India, Vietnam, Indonesia, and others,” continued Tedjarati. “We look forward to innovating and implementing new technologies to solve some of the world’s toughest challenges, such as energy efficiency, clean energy generation, safety and security.” “We take great pride that Honeywell has been part of China’s extraordinary growth and transformation. Through our East-for-East and East-to-West strategies, we have enabled a growing number of Chinese customers to achieve success both at home and abroad,” said Stephen Shang, president of Honeywell China. “I’m confident that the new center will bring us closer to our customers, and elevate public awareness of technologies that can be leveraged to help China cope with energy and safety challenges brought by its fast economic growth and massive urbanization.” The 1,500-square-meter Honeywell Technology Experience center is Honeywell’s second and largest technology experience center. The company opened its first center in Washington, D.C. in 2005. Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry; turbochargers; and specialty materials. Honeywell has a long history in China that goes back to 1935 when it established the first franchise in Shanghai. Today, all of Honeywell’s four Strategic Business Groups are represented in China, and all of them have relocated their Asia Pacific headquarters to China. Over the years, Honeywell has set up subsidiaries and joint ventures in more than 20 cities across the country. Honeywell employs approximately 12,000 people in China. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywell.com.cn.

GE PulsePOINT* Technology Helps Wind Operators Reduce Costs and Achieve Optimal Energy Production

25 April 2012

GE PulsePOINT* Technology Helps Wind Operators Reduce Costs and Achieve Optimal Energy Production

 

• New Service Detects Turbine Anomalies, Offers Corrective Actions
• Key Benefits Include Reduced Turbine Operating Costs, Increased Output
• Capability Included as Part of All Existing GE Wind Service Operations and Maintenance Agreements
• Latest Expansion of GE’s Suite of Wind Services

SCHENECTADY, N.Y.—April 25, 2012—GE (NYSE: GE) today announced a new technology that can help give wind farm operators a competitive edge by identifying problems with wind turbines before they can cause downtime or major failures. Using advanced software, GE’s innovative PulsePOINT* Advanced Monitoring and Diagnostic Services help operators reduce costs and achieve optimal energy production by increasing wind turbine reliability and availability.

PulsePOINT incorporates advanced GE-proprietary anomaly detection algorithms with SCADA data and GE Bently Nevada condition monitoring equipment (if installed on the turbine). The system collects wind farm and fleet data from hundreds of turbine sensors and key SCADA control parameters. Currently running more than 150 unique rules and algorithms 24 hours a day, PulsePOINT detects and prioritizes anomalies in wind turbine operations and identifies the proper course of corrective action. This includes identifying wind turbines that are underproducing to ensure customers are achieving optimal energy production.

“PulsePOINT is just the latest example of how GE continues to expand our suite of service offerings, to provide even stronger support for our customers in the wind industry,” said Andy Holt, Wind Services general manager for GE Power & Water. “We are committed to developing new technologies that will further enhance the reliability and productivity of our wind turbines worldwide.”

This technology was developed over the past several years, with an investment of more than $3 million. PulsePOINT is currently operating on data from more than 12,000 wind turbines worldwide in GE’s fleet. Warrantied owners, operations and maintenance, full-service agreement and Bently Nevada condition monitoring customers receive the full capabilities of the services.

With years of experience in monitoring and prognostics of jet engines, helicopters, locomotives and oil and gas rotating equipment, GE wind customers benefit from the expertise and synergies across a number of GE businesses. PulsePOINT technology applies proprietary algorithms developed through a joint effort between GE’s wind business and GE Aviation Systems, using a combination of SCADA data, Bently Nevada ADAPT.wind condition monitoring equipment (if installed on the turbine) and other key inputs to monitor and prioritize turbine health. Further capabilities are planned to optimize maintenance.

GE’s wind service solutions are supported by the company’s advanced technology, global resources and service facilities and a network of skilled, highly trained local technicians who are closely connected to GE’s engineering organization. GE full service agreements also give customers access to GE’s suite of turbine upgrades that are based on new product evolutions and the in-depth product knowledge that only an original equipment manufacturer can provide.

* Trademark of the General Electric Company.

About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com.

GE also serves the energy sector by providing technology and service solutions that are based on a commitment to quality and innovation. The company continues to invest in new technology solutions and grow through strategic acquisitions to strengthen its local presence and better serve customers around the world. The businesses that comprise GE Energy—GE Power & Water, GE Energy Management and GE Oil & Gas—work together with more than 100,000 global employees and 2010 revenues of $38 billion, to provide integrated product and service solutions in all areas of the energy industry including coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy; renewable resources such as water, wind, solar and biogas; as well as other alternative fuels and new grid modernization technologies to meet 21st century energy needs.

Cisco Reinforces Commitment to Russian Sustainable Development and Innovation

Cisco Reinforces Commitment to Russian Sustainable Development and Innovation

Cities of the Future: Songdo, South Korea – Energy

Songdo International Business District's information technology network manages energy use in every building, making the city very "green." Episode 7 in the series.

March 28 , 2012

Transcript:

As populations expand and economies grow, people are consuming more non-renewable energy sources than ever. The race is on to make cities radically more energy efficient.

Songdo, South Korea, a new city built entirely from scratch, is on the forefront.

In Songdo, a revolutionary information technology network manages energy use in every building.

Jean-Louis Massaut, Director, Cisco Services Korea: The network that we deploy here is actually connecting all of the components in the city, all of the building subsystems together, so that we can bring energy savings.

Scott Summers, Vice President, Gale International:We're improving the efficiencies of each of the buildings. Our windows have low U value that reduces the amount of sunlight coming in and keeps the energy of the heat or cooling inside the building. Another component to reduce energy consumption (is) we light up the buildings with LED lights.

Peter Lee,Sustainable Design Specialist, Cosentini Korea: On the system level, we introduced water-cooled air conditioning system; it has never been applied to any Korean project before. We also have central home network system through which you can control your electricity use to reduce the dependence on the energy.

These innovations are helping reduce energy consumption in each building by 30 percent.  The city is also tapping into renewable natural resources.

Lee Jong-Cheol, Commissioner, Incheon Free Economic Zone: Sunlight, solar energy, windforce energy are being currently used to operate the city. Even human waste isn't simply disposed of. It is processed through a recycling system and a co-generation plant producing necessary energy.

Scott Summers: We have a co-generation facility that uses natural gas to power electricity. And the waste heat is in the form of hot water, and so we use that waste heat to run up our buildings and provide heating for our residential units.

By 2040, worldwide electricity demand is projected to be 80 percent higher than it is today. Songdo is a model for cities trying to keep pace.

Learn more at thenetwork.cisco.com/songdo