Leading European energy experts, including the chairman of Dutch network Alliander, Peter Molengraaf, the Dutch Economic Affairs Ministry’s DG for Energy, Mark Dierikx and Deutsche Telekom’s Gabriele Riedmann de Trinidad, are part of the opening session to address the more than 4200 smart metering experts from utilities, energy regulators, technology suppliers and industry associations at the annual Metering, Billing/CRM Europe conference and expo at the Amsterdam RAI from Tuesday 4 October.
At the top of the agenda is the way forward in energy efficiency and the smart meter roll out targets for European utilities.
Security paramount to a successful rollout
Alliander, the event host utility and one of Europe’s most progressive electricity companies, currently running a number of large scale, high-tech smart grid projects, sees the improvements in ICT security as fundamental to the robustness and stability of future smart grid. Says Bram Reinders, who is the Dutch network’s Alliance Manager: “from both a physical and cyber perspective, extra ICT security will reduce the probability and consequences of manmade mistakes, deliberate attacks and natural disasters.”
Smart metering on Facebook and the E-Legtric bike
The latest technology and apps to assist utilities in installing new-generation smart meters and value-added services to their clients will also be on display at Metering Europe in the Amsterdam RAI next week. One example is the German company, GreenPocket, which will display the world’s first social metering app connecting smart metering with Facebook. The company believes it will boost customer engagement as the GreenPocket social metering app helps consumers share their carbon footprint in a competitive and entertaining way on Facebook.
Then in true Dutch cycling fashion, local company E-Legtrics will exhibit its “ultimate electric folding bike”, the E-legtric Marin.
More speaker highlights at the Metering Europe include:
- Fabrizio Barbaso, Deputy Director General, DG Energy at the European Commission: The future EU energy direction and the role of smart metering in influencing regulation and policy in member states.
- Richard Schomberg, Chairman, IEC Smart Grid Strategic Group and responsible for EDF Group Smart Energy Standards: The importance of EU standardization and interoperability as a first step towards an integrated smart grid.
- Neil Pennington, Head of Smart Implementation, RWE Npower, UK: The challenge of meeting customer expectations whilst rolling out at volume – how to reconcile supplier’s business needs and customer wants for a long term cooperation.
