Responding to what it perceives as a significant rise in worldwide energy consumption and the corresponding need for demand-side management services, Honeywell has created a new business unit, Smart Grid Solutions, an enterprise on a global scale that concentrates the company’s existing smart grid resources and expertise. Its main offerings will be aimed at delivering end-to-end programmes that solve a variety of energy challenges, such as relieving stress and congestion on aging electrical infrastructure, making best use of intermittent renewable resources, and better managing the increased demand for energy, which is expected to grow 40 % by 2035.
According to a recent report from Pike Research, revenue for demand response services in particular will grow from nearly $1.3 billion in 2011 to $6.1 billion by 2016, with load-curtailment services representing nearly two-thirds of the total opportunity. This latter is an area in which Honeywell has been prominent for several decades. “Honeywell has a long history helping balance supply and demand through turnkey programmes that provide benefits for utilities and end users,” said Jeremy Eaton, vice president and general manager of Honeywell Smart Grid Solutions. “However, the scope and applicability of our work is expanding. Countries across the world are making significant investments to build a smarter, more robust grid. And we have the technology, services and relationships to help those investments pay dividends.”
In the UK, as part of the £30-million New Thames Valley Vision project awarded to Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution by energy regulator Ofgem earlier this year, Honeywell is installing automated demand response (Auto DR) technology in the selected facilities. The utility will then work with these customers to trim peak electricity use and reduce strain on the local networks and substations, which are nearing capacity. The project builds on a successful Auto DR demonstration in Bracknell, UK, where Honeywell proved that a commercial building could quickly shed up to 45 percent of its electrical load during peak hours. The result of the pilot prompted SSE to expand the use of the technology. Honeywell expects the full-scale project will give the utility the ability to shave approximately 10 MW of energy use when necessary.
“The grid won’t be smart until it allows utilities and users to work together to reduce consumption and boost stability,” said Paul Orzeske, president of Honeywell Building Solutions.
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