The Horizon 2020 project INVADE is one of the largest European research and innovation projects in the field of smart grid, charging and energy storage. INVADE had its final review in Brussels earlier this year, which marked the successful completion of the prestigious three-year R&D-project.
This has been an innovative and exciting journey for us at eSmart Systems. Through the project, we have developed a new flexibility platform that has been tested and used by all the pilots in the project. It is also in use by some of our customers outside the INVADE project. The platform is branded as Connected Prosumer
Largest Norwegian-led EU Project
The European Union has set ambitious goals for reduction of greenhouse gas emission and for increase of renewable energy share. It is these global challenges that were the driving force for initiating the project.
The INVADE project is to date the largest Norwegian-led EU project within energy, consisting of 12 European partners, of which 5 are Norwegian. The result: a brand new cloud-based flexibility management system that changes the way energy is produced, consumed and stored.
“INVADE has proven that today’s technologies and solutions can be utilized in new ways. There has been a strong focus on innovation of component integration and technology adaptation
throughout the project. We have combined IoT-devices and big data management with digital intelligence through machine learning models and advanced optimization methods. The result is a powerful tool that can be used in several contexts,” explains Stig Ødegaard, Head of R&D at eSmart Systems.
The Integrated INVADE Platform
eSmart Systems is the provider of the Integrated INVADE platform which is used by all five pilots. The platform, which is hosted in Microsoft Azure, finds the optimal way to use the available energy flexibility at the pilot sites. It visualizes and predicts available flexibility, optimizes how it should be used, and sends the optimized plans to individual controllable devices at the pilot sites.
“The whole project group has cooperated well and worked together towards a common goal - we have gained valuable insight by cooperating closely with the project partners,” adds Lundby.
Successful Pilot Stories
The pilots in INVADE have in different ways explored the potential of energy storage at various levels in the distribution grid. The three-year R&D project has resulted in successful pilot stories for all the five pilots:
- Albena AD in Bulgaria
- Estabanell Energia in Spain
- GreenFlux and ElaadNL in the Netherlands
- Lyse in Norway
- Badenova in Germany.
Learn more about the pilots here.
INVADE partner companies
Smart Innovation Norway AS (NO, coordinator), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya – CITCEA (ES), Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NO), Teknologian tutkimuskeskus VTT oy (FI), Badenova AG & Co. KG (DE), Albena JsCo (BG), Schneider Electric Norway AS (NO), Lyse Elnett AS (NO), Estabanell y Pahisa Energia, S.A. (ES), ElaadNL (NL) and GreenFlux Assets B.V. (NL) and eSmart Systems AS (NO).
Read also:
When the Danish electricity distribution company nef Fonden decided to install new smart meters on Nordøstfyn, eSmart Systems was chosen to handle all the collected data – and make sure that the company gets the most out of the information.
Through a recent EU tender, nef Fonden (a midsized Danish electricity company located in Kerteminde on the island of Funen) announced that they needed new smart meters for their 16 700 meter points – to uphold the law and new regulations in Denmark.
They wanted to buy new NES meters, but they also wanted to get the most out of these meters. That is why eSmart Systems was brought into the picture. Today, we have signed an agreement with both OneCo Elektro and the customer, nef Fonden
Unique possibilities
The system solution as a whole will be delivered by OneCo Elektro AS, with eSmart Systems as a subcontractor. The agreement entails 16.700 NES smart meters to be installed on Nordøstfyn, including associated IT applications, and lasts for 15 years.
The solution provides nef Fonden with the opportunity to read the meters through IP communication, in real-time, which will provide unique possibilities.
With the IP solution, we can offer our consumers new services. Real-time data opens for optimization of our day-to-day operations. In the long run, it will help us plan necessary investments and enable us to handle future changes in consumer patterns
Smart app for end-users
eSmart Systems role will be to handle all the data which is collected from the smart meters, get more out of it and find synergies.
In this new world where big data is a must; the electricity companies belong to the sector that generates the most data – which is why they need to invest in better software. Our job is to validate all the meter data, estimate missing values, ensure quality and make sure the information reaches the data hub. In addition, we have a great platform for optimization and making the process more efficient
comments Haar
He emphasizes that this job is important to eSmart Systems, because it sets a new standard for what the company wants to get out of the meters.
Enters the Danish market
It takes the many years of experience and high-quality work we have been doing in Norway and introduces this to the Danish market
says Haar. He adds:
Even though there are many differences in how we operate the grid, there are also parallels between the Norwegian and Danish power market. We can find synergies and benefit from these. It will show some of the Danish utilities all the great things that is possible on the new big data platform.
Haar believes eSmart Systems was chosen for the job due to the new technology, the quality and the platform that the company represents.
This is not a legacy system, we do not have on-premise old technology; we want to get the most out of the meters. In addition, we seek to exploit the possibility for real-time data and sensors combining heat and water,
he points out
Involving the end-user
The new collaboration will ultimately benefit the end-user. Haar reveals that up to 40 percent of today’s normal consumption is wasted, which has a significant impact on the world’s CO2 levels and climate.
We want to get the customer much more involved than today, to inform and enlighten about consumption and possible waste. If we can make it more interesting and easier for the end-user, I think they will get much more involved. That is why the aspects of gamification and user-friendliness is so important in the new app, to make sure that the end-user wants to participate
explains eSmart’s SVP
About nef Fonden
nef Fonden was founded in 1967 as I/S Nordøstfyns Elforsyning. In 2000, the mother company became a fund. Today, nef Fonden owns three subsidiaries: Ravdex A/S, nef Strøm A/S and nef Fiber A/S. The group employs 35 people which operate in different business areas:
- Ravdex A/S has 16 700 meter points
- Ravdex A/S owns and operates more than 930 kilometers of electric cable
- nef Fiber A/S owns and operates more than 2 559 kilometers of optical fiber tubes and cables
- nef Fiber A/S offers fiber networks to 17 000 houses on Nordøstfyn
- nef Strøm A/S delivers electricity to 13 000 customers in Denmark
About OneCo Elektro
- OneCo Elektro AS is part of the Norwegian industrial group OneCo AS, with its core activities focused on the oil and gas sector, infrastructure, industry, renewable energy and construction.
- OneCo currently employs about 750 people, has an annual turnover of about NOK 1.2 billion, and is located in Kristiansand, Sandnes, Bergen, Oslo and Drammen
About NES
- The NES System is an award-winning smart grid infrastructure solution, based on Open Smart Grid Protocol (OSGP).
- NES’ smart grid technology is used in nearly 40 million smart meters and other smart end devices around the world.
- NES offers industry leading security built into its three tier Patagonia Platform.
- The most reliable smart metering solution in the industry, delivering >99.8% daily availability of meter data.
- The NES System offers a unique power line technology that enables grid mapping, automatic topology management, and many more low voltage grid applications.
- NES has more than 100 existing smart metering / smart grid projects and pilots in more than 25 different countries.
Celebrating the International Women’s Day (IWD) on March 8, the Norwegian tech networks ODA and Abelia have crowned Norway’s 50 most successful tech women.
Among them, we can find our very own Director of Business Development and Business Area Manager of Energy Markets & City, Tina Marie Skagen.
I was stunned when I received the phone call, because I never thought I stood a chance
exclaims Skagen – smiling
Two for two
Last year, eSmart Systems’ Elisabeth Brevik Karlsen was on the list of Norway’s most successful IT women, which means eSmart Systems has made the prestigious list twice in two years.
Abelia and ODA widened their search this year and have looked for outstanding women in the entire tech industry. The 50 recognized women are divided into three categories; leaders, entrepreneurs and technical managers.
Skagen has been recognized as one of the country’s most thriving technical managers. And even though she did not believe it at first, she admits it means a lot to her:
Of course, I am happy and proud. It is cool to be a part of putting eSmart Systems on the Norwegian technology map
Read also: Tina featured in the Norwegian newspaper, Fredriksstad Blad.
Finds unknown talents
The jury consisted of six competent and diverse business leaders, chairmen and researchers, and the criteria for making the list were as follows:
- All candidates must work in businesses which create value, not in the public sector
- All candidates must work with tasks which create value, like sales and/or production
Every candidate has been nominated anonymously and it has been open to anyone to nominate candidates since the beginning of January.
“The goal of the competition is to make all the female talents within technology more visible, and so the jury’s goal has been to find candidates that are relatively unknown to most people”, explains Kristine Hofer Næss, chairman of ODA.
Strong decision-maker
Skagen’s work at eSmart Systems have varied during her three years at the company, and now she is in charge of the business area Energy Markets & City.
Her days consist of coordinating sales and deliveries, shaping the products, meeting with customers, talking to people and her creating a good environment within her team.
“But I think perhaps my most important job is making difficult decisions and making sure we always move forward”, notes Skagen.
Making a difference
When asked why she believes she has been chosen as one of the top 50 tech women in the country, Skagen emphasizes that such a recognition would never be possible without having great colleagues.
“First of all, I work in a company that has made an impact – both nationally and internationally. Second, someone has been kind enough to nominate me. And lastly, I hope it is because I have contributed to making a difference while working here, she humbly proposes.
About Tina Skagen
Tina holds a M.Sc. in Strategy and Management from Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration. In 2008, she completed the Norwegian Entrepreneurship Program in Boston as a part of her master’s degree. In 2015, she participated in the program Innovation Management in a Global Business Perspective at the Norwegian Business School. Over the past years, Tina has held positions as Business Controller and Project Manager at different Norwegian corporations.
After three successful pilot projects with TEA clients, eSmart Systems and TEA (The Energy Authority) have signed a strategic partnership agreement to deliver analytics services.
On March 2nd TEA announced the launch of “TEA Connected Analytics” as a service on their Energy Symposium in Jacksonville, Florida.
Valuable partnership
The two companies have now conducted three successful pilot projects with TEA clients, and as a result, they have signed a strategic partnership agreement to deliver analytics services to clients of TEA in the US.
This initial success and partnership with TEA is of great value to our market expansion in North America. In addition to getting access to a large share of the utility market in the US, we will also get a partner with a long and deep understanding of the utility market and a strong IT and analytics practice
New core service
TEA is currently serving more than 50 public power utilities nationwide from their headquarter in Jacksonville, Florida, with additional offices in Seattle (Bellevue), Washington.
The new core service from TEA has gotten the name ‘TEA Connected Analytics’ and together we will continue to build and offer new analytics services to their clients
Provides expertise
The service is based on eSmart Systems’ Connected Utility platform, which will provide the underlying data management and machine learning analysis systems. The Connected Utility platform is built in close cooperation with Microsoft, based on their Microsoft Azure services.
“One of the advantages with our collaboration is, not only does eSmart Systems have a very rich toolset in the connected grid application, but the approach to how they implement projects and the support that they provide behind that, and of course; the essence of who they are as a company, comments Tom Harvey, CIO of The Energy Authority.
See how TEA benefits from using the eSmart Systems software in delivering services to JEA, a municipal utility with more than 455,000 electric, 337,000 water and 261,000 sewer customers in Florida:
- Read also: TEA and eSmart Systems enter agreement to initiate strategic partnership
- Read also: eSmart Systems Opens New US Headquarter
Last summer, eSmart Systems was presented as the Norwegian ISV of the year by Microsoft. Tuesday, the prize was handed out – and the company celebrated with cake.
This recognition means that the choses we make are noticed. We are a software house and work with Microsoft technology, which makes it even more enjoyable that Microsoft thinks we are best at what we do in our country. It is important for recruitment as well
On Tuesday, three representatives from Microsoft Norway showed up at eSmart Systems’ offices in Halden to present and hand out the physical proof of the award ISV (independent software vendor) of the year 2017 – revealing that the prize was won in competition with more than a thousand companies.
“It was really easy to draw the conclusion that the prize for 2017, as it was for 2015, again is given to eSmart Systems”, says John Henrik Andersen, Senior Director Business Development at Microsoft, before handing over the glass framed and engraved award to Johansen.
Digitally disruptive
The idea behind the award is to recognize the Microsoft partners which lead the way in the industry’s digital transformation.
Microsoft has always been and is still today a partner-led company with a huge ecosystem that enabled millions of Windows users to be more productive in the PC era. In today’s cloud world, partners are again playing the central role in enabling millions of enterprises and their users to transform their businesses digitally
We want to recognize Independent Software (ISV) partners for the outstanding job they are doing to help companies globally move to cloud and digitally disrupt their industry
He adds
“Well deserved”
Shafique’s job is to help companies such as eSmart Systems to succeed commercially and help grow the company’s business on Microsoft’s cloud platform. For the past three years, he has helped to build eSmart Systems’ solution, both from a business and a tech side.
Shafique makes clear that eSmart Systems is a very deserving prize winner, and has few problems explaining why:
“In just four years, they have accomplished something most tech startups only dream about; they have paying global customers across several continents.”
He notes the fact that the industry is known for being conservative, but now faces challenges to its business model and needs to meet with the new demand from the environment aware prosumers.
“eSmart Systems has solved this new change by using the world’s most advanced technology while building a viable business. The company truly understands the customer’s need and have priced their product based on the value that they are generating for their customers”, Shafique emphasizes.
More hard work
Erik Åsberg, CTO at eSmart Systems and Microsoft Regional Director, is pleased with both the award and the fine words.
If we can follow up with more awards, it will have an even stronger effect. For example, we can get better at promoting ourselves in the market and in recruitment processes
he notes
As for now, the hard work towards developing and improving the celebrated software solution continues.
We continuously work on developing our cloud-based platform further, and we can see that our products are starting to get more and more attention in the market
says Åsberg
Digital intelligence experts eSmart Systems and digital chart experts Electronic Chart Centre (ECC) join forces to deliver world-class map technology.
Together, we work in a disruptive reality and develop solutions with huge potential, both in Norway and the rest of the world. This collaboration will become the core in developing Thundercloud, our end-to-end solution for energy companies
This week Johansen’s company signed an important contract with Electronic Chart Centre (ECC), which marks the beginning of a new and groundbreaking collaboration.
Secures total overview
The idea is that we deliver our chart solution to eSmart’s Connected Thundercloud solutions, which is flexible and adaptable to fit the need of the customer. Our core competence lies in making the chart interface as smooth, understandable and logic as possible
ECC is a state-owned company which provides a niche centre of expertise for the collection, quality management and distribution of Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs) globally. Their work involves ensuring the Norwegian Air Ambulance has updated maps at all times, and can fly and land safely.
“For us, the collaboration is important for several reasons. It has to do with safety, security and overview. Just like helicopter flights need approval from the Civil Aviation Authority, we need approval before flying our drones, notes Johansen.
“eSmart exploits the potential”
ECC has developed Norway’s most downloaded navigational app, called NaVida. It is the first and only mobile application based on the best and most updated Norwegian map since the Norwegian Mapping Authority release of viewing services on December 1st, 2009.
From our side, the goal is to provide value to a new industry and deliver a solution that we have spent much time and energy developing
explains Bøe. She adds
“We would like to reuse the technology and at the same time develop it further, alongside someone who can exploit its full potential. As two Norwegian companies, we wish to make each other better.
World-class technology
Tore Lie, project manager at eSmart Systems, emphasizes the fact that the two collaboration partners aim to do something no-one else has done before them.
What we are developing together, is actually world-class map technology. We are aboput to solve something that has not been done before
comments Lie
“Together, we know that we can deliver a ‘best-in-class’ solution, while at the same time providing certain societal benefits. This collaboration is win-win-win. Not just for the ECC and eSmart Systems, but for the client as well, supplements CEO of ECC, Ralph Daber.
About Electronic Chart Centre:
- A state-owned company which provides a niche centre of expertise for the collection, quality management and distribution of Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs) globally.
- ECC was founded in 1999 and is located in Stavanger, Norway.
- The company’s vision is to contribute to greater safety and security, lower costs and enhanced efficiency at sea and on land by rapidly developing technology to fit clients’ needs.
About eSmart Systems:
- eSmart Systems develops digital intelligence for the energy industry and smart communities.
- The company is based on more than 20 years of international experience in establishing and operating knowledge-based, leading IT and energy-related companies targeting global markets.
- The company’s platform is designed to handle and exploit the Internet of Things, Big Data and Analytics in real time.
Kragerø Energi AS becomes the sixth company to utilize and operate Connected Drone Image Analysis, an intelligent assistant based on eSmart Systems’ Connected Platform.
The product provides an overview of pictures from completed power line inspections. The imported picture material is used to visualize the condition of line components in the physical grid. Analysis is carried out using machine learning and leading analysis methods, and is processed with unique velocity
More efficient process
The grid company Kragerø Energi AS was one of eSmart Systems’ first collaboration partners in the revolutionary Connected Drone project. This week the two companies signed a contract enabling Kragerø Energi to start utilizing and operating Connected Drone Image Analysis.
By using our artificial intelligence (AI) as a tool, the process of detecting errors in the power grid gets more efficient. The software identifies these errors before they occur
Connected Drone Image Analysis is a product that will give the grid companies greater value of the image material they already have
He adds
Opens new possibilities
CEO of Kragerø Energi AS, Geir Elsebutangen, notes that the collaboration also opens unique possibilities.
“eSmart Systems’ R&D projects provides smaller grid companies with the opportunity to participate and acquire important competence and technology, says Elsebutangen.
Troms Kraft Nett entered Astrum in January, a three-year R&D project focusing on AMI operations, grid operations, grid development and grid maintenance.
The objective is to make an intelligent decision support tool for the operation and advantage of smart grids. The project addresses solutions for the industry based on brand new technology using artificial intelligence and machine learning.
The grid industry and Troms Kraft Nett are facing major challenges in the future. We need to invest in an aging power grid, while it is important to think new and smart in order to make effective use of the company’s resources. This requires good decisions based on available and relevant information. We are therefore very pleased to be part of the Astrum project led by eSmart Systems. Here we can solve our future challenges in cooperation with competent partners
We appreciate that Troms Kraft Nett has chosen eSmart Systems as a long-term partner in systems for AMI and utilities. We are really looking forward to starting the collaboration through the Astrum project together with the four other highly competent partners
In addition to Troms Kraft Nett and eSmart Systems, Glitre Energi Nett, SFE Nett, Ringeriks-Kraft Nett and Norgesnett are participants in the project.
SFE Nett and eSmart Systems have signed an agreement for the delivery of Connected Grid.
Since 2013, eSmart Systems has been developing Connected Grid in close cooperation with DSO’s SFE Nett, Norgesnett, Ringeriks-Kraft Nett and Glitre Energi Nett through an industrial research and development project. Connected Grid is an intelligent top system based entirely on a forward-looking architecture utilizing cloud services, IoT, Big Data and digital intelligence.
We look forward to use Connected Grid to capitalize on our investments in a smarter grid, by giving better operational control and make greater value out of the vast amount of data we collect in the future
We are very pleased that SFE Nett has chosen to go in operative use with Connected Grid. We strongly believe that our technology will lead to significant savings for SFE Nett
On November 8th, 2017, Norway’s and the world’s largest electronic security supplier entered a partnership agreement with a corresponding world-leading supplier of artificial intelligence and machine learning. The parties will collaborate on deliveries of innovative, forward-looking solutions in the welfare and security sector.
Stanley Security is a leading company within electronic security in Norway and the world. The company has long roots both nationally and internationally and is considered the preferred supplier of alarm security, security cameras and access control solutions related to one of Norway’s most technologically advanced alarm and 24/7 response centers.
For a long time, we have been looking for an innovative partner who can lift our own digitization process, while also being so complementary that we can have a concrete market cooperation. This collaboration between Stanley and eSmart Systems provides this combination, enabling us to deliver smart and future-oriented security services to our customers
Exploring New Opportunities
Together, eSmart Systems and Stanley Security focus heavily on innovation and development of future security services. Entering a partner agreement, the companies show that they will work together to explore new technological opportunities in emerging markets such as Internet of Things (IoT), Smart Office, Smart Home, Welfare Technology and Smart City.
eSmart Systems develops digital intelligence for the energy industry and smart communities. The company is based on more than 20 years of international experience in establishing and managing knowledge-based, leading IT and energy-related companies targeting global markets.
Previously, the parties have entered an agreement for delivery of a backend support system for a new and flexible alarm solution at Stanley Security. This solution handles incoming alarms and connects them to Stanley Security’s 24-hour alert station.
eSmart Systems is responsible for software delivery, while eSmart Systems’ subsidiary, E2U, has entered a similar agreement for hardware and logistics delivery. Stanley Security delivers the service – including surveillance and alarm service – to their end customers.
Equipped for Further Development
With a platform allowing the usage of IoT and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for collecting market-leading data, the partners are well equipped for further development as well as reduction of operating costs.
The cooperation with Stanley Security is important to us in eSmart Systems. Stanley Security is large on security both nationally and internationally. Through this collaboration we will be able to deliver competitive solutions and services to the security market, which shows the width of our platform’s areas of application
Using eSmart Systems’ solutions in the field of AI and machine learning at Stanley Security, the security giant will be able to improve existing market offerings. For example, they could reduce the number of false alarms with subsequent callouts or achieve faster and better response on alarms. They will also be able to create predictive safety analyzes, where it will be possible to uncover unwanted events before they occur.
The signing of the new partnership agreement took place in the Simulation Center at Remmen Business Park in Halden, Wednesday, November 8th.
Read also (external link): Inngår partnerskap med verdensledende selskap