Brussels, 26/01/2011 (Agence Europe) - German company SAP AG, a specialist in computer corporate software, submitted its recommendations to EU Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger on 25 January on the introduction of smart grids in Europe. Entitled Smart Grids for Europe, the document sets out the pros, cons and best practice in this domain and says that dominant application of digital information and ITC can help the EU to meet its 2020 targets for energy efficiency and greater use of renewables and also reduce CO2 emissions.
Among its recommendations, the German company recommends: - introducing detailed legislation on smart grids to get round obstacles to investment, align the economic models of the various stakeholders in the electricity market, meet consumer concerns and channel national initiatives to create a common market for smart girds and services; - drawing up a roadmap for the deployment of smart grids with realistic objectives; - introducing incentives for investing in smart meters and grid technology; - introducing harmonised EU rules; - introducing robust rules to ensure high confidentiality of data and security of networks against fraud and attacks, which will require cooperation among industry, data protection officers and consumer associations to draw up a code of conduct; - creating an EU smart grid knowledge centre to encourage the exchange of best practice in technology (software and hardware) for the deployment of smart grids and creating a laboratory for network operators and technology suppliers to test the performance and interoperability of products and potential solutions; - introducing a research agenda for smart grid projects, which SAP argues should become a priority in the EU's seventh and eighteen R&D framework-programmes to ensure the development of appropriate security, safety and risk concepts and the right architecture; - holding consumer awareness-raising campaigns about the benefits of smart grids and meters; - ensuring non-discriminatory access to the market for non-EU countries, particularly public tenders; and - carrying out research into the benefits of smart grids, examining their economic importance and advantages for the energy industry and consumers, and also examining their wider impact on the EU economy (growth and job creation).
Research suggests that some US$200 billion of investment would be required for the deployment of smart grids between 2008 and 2015. (E.H./transl.fl)