Google's Search for ET  

SmartMeters.com has an article on Google's investments in "ET" (energy technology) - Google developing smart charging software.

Forward-thinking Google is researching potential problems that could arise when millions of people charge their cars at night. It will be years before plug-in hybrid vehicles dominate the roads but Google seeks to tackle the issue well ahead of time.

Google is researching a number of smart grid technologies including the PowerMeter program that is currently undergoing tests with several utility companies in the U.S., one in Canada, and another in India. Google is working in the area where IT and “ET,” or energy technology, converge according to Dan Reicher, director of climate change and energy initiatives at Google.org.

Reicher spoke at the Kema Utility of the Future conference held in Washington D.C. Reicher spoke about how Google is addressing concerns that millions of plug-in cars would overload the power system, or require the construction of new power plants, when they return home from work in the evenings.

Google has developed software based upon what it calls a “vehicle dispatch algorithm” that determines the best way to charge multitudes of vehicles, according to Reicher. By “smart charging,” demand is levelled throughout the power grid. The technology also makes it easier to integrate renewable power sources despite their intermittent availability.

The “vehicle dispatch algorithm” can also make operations easier for utility companies. Typically, power companies must rely on the generation source to increase or decrease the flow of electricity in order to maintain a steady frequency on transmission wires. According to Reicher, Google’s software allows plug-in vehicles to assume that role.

“You can tell the power generators to power up or you can tell 250 cars to stop charging,” said Reicher in an interview with CNET. “It could be that the car charges for two minutes and then goes off-whatever is most effective.”

Google is operating a fleet of plug-in cars at its corporate headquarters in Mountain View, California. The vehicles are serving as a proving ground for a number of smart grid technologies the search giant is researching such as allowing car batteries to feed back to the power grid during times of peak demand.

Smart-charging doesn’t require a two-way communications link between a plugged-in car and the power grid. Reicher believes it can be introduced rather soon. “This is just good software meets good hardware,” he said. “This doesn’t have to be rocket science, and we can do it without having to put the grid at risk or change a lot of things.”

Smart charging could become essential when millions of plug-in cars hit the roads over the next several years. Although they aren’t being widely produced as of yet, electric vehicles are expected to be released into the mainstream over the next year.

Google is not the only company researching smart charging technology. GridPoint acquired V2Green in 2008 and has tested its version with General Motors’ Chevy Volt. GridPoint’s software is able to speed up or slow down the battery-charging rate and provides feedback to utility companies detailing the process.

GM has said that it expects smart charging software to be available when the Volt is released to the market late next year. Working in conjunction with the automaker’s OnStar service, smart charging allows Volt owners to take advantage of the best electrical rates.

Reicher also spoke about PowerMeter at the conference. He said Google will soon announce major deals with European utilities that will use the smart meter software. PowerMeter allows homeowners to monitor their energy usage in real time and displays information detailing how much energy power-hungry devices are using.