CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today at Solar Power International 2013, Silver Spring Networks, Inc. (NYSE: SSNI), a leading networking platform and solutions provider for smart energy networks, announced the integration of solar inverters with its Smart Energy Platform. As part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s SunShot Initiative, Silver Spring’s standards-based networking platform and CustomerIQ™ consumer engagement solution with photovoltaic (PV) enhancements have been selected by the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s Hawaii Natural Energy Institute (UH-HNEI) for solar integration projects in Hawaii, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia. Silver Spring’s proven IPv6-based networking platform and industry leadership around standards such as Smart Energy Profile 2.0 and SunSpec was a key criterion for selection.
“The integration of renewable energy is becoming more prominent every day – residential PV penetration is estimated to double over the next few years. Taking an end-to-end approach, by empowering the end consumer and building in intelligence at every layer of the network itself, is critical as we integrate a greater diversity of distributed energy sources,” said Raj Vaswani, Chief Technology Officer, Silver Spring Networks. “Basic web-only consumer behavior modification solutions simply can’t handle the rising tides of complexity. Together with UH-HNEI and our partners we’re taking a holistic approach that unlocks benefits for both users and utilities.”
The State of Hawaii is already a leader in the production of solar energy. In collaboration with the Maui Electric Company and Hawaiian Electric Company, the UH-HNEI project is designed to enable utilities to better manage and integrate PV systems through inverter control to allow for higher penetrations of solar energy on the grid. New enhancements to the Silver Spring CustomerIQ consumer engagement platform help analyze and present the data so customers better understand the net billing impact of installing solar in their homes, and helps guide economical energy usage throughout the day.
“Silver Spring has a long track record of proven networking technology innovation and commitment to open standards,” said Dr. Richard Rocheleau, Director of the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute at the University of Hawaii. “Their Smart Energy Platform is a critical element of this innovative project and is helping the industry further integrate renewable energy sources into the grid.”
Oklahoma Gas & Electric is also leveraging its inverter lab to conduct testing of the advanced inverters and providing a utility benefit evaluation of smart PV inverters. Pepco Holdings’ subsidiaries, Atlantic City Electric in New Jersey and Pepco in the District of Columbia, will host field trials of the smart inverter technologies to examine utility control of distributed solar inverters to both integrate higher penetration of solar as well as protect critical electric network infrastructure.
Additional partners in these solar integration projects include Fronius, a leading manufacturer of photovoltaic inverters, and Rising Sun Solar Electric and SolarCity for installation and management of the solar power systems.
UH-HNEI expects to deploy the Silver Spring networking platform for the multi-state projects for the demonstrations through 2015.
About Silver Spring Networks
Silver Spring Networks (NYSE: SSNI) is a leading networking platform and solutions provider for smart energy networks. Silver Spring’s pioneering IPv6 networking platform, with 17 million Silver Spring enabled devices delivered, is connecting utilities to homes and business throughout the world with the goal of achieving greater energy efficiency for the planet. Silver Spring’s innovative solutions enable utilities to gain operational efficiencies, improve grid reliability, and empower consumers to monitor and manage energy consumption. Silver Spring Networks customers include major utilities around the globe such as Baltimore Gas & Electric, CitiPower & Powercor, Commonwealth Edison, CPS Energy, Florida Power & Light, Jemena Electricity Networks Limited, Pacific Gas & Electric, Pepco Holdings, Progress Energy and Singapore Power, among others. To learn more, please visit www.silverspringnet.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements about Silver Spring Networks’ expectations, plans, intentions, and strategies, including, but not limited to statements regarding Silver Spring’s engagement with UH-HNEI. Statements including words such as "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" or “future” and statements in the future tense are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions, which, if they do not fully materialize or prove incorrect, could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties include those described in Silver Spring Networks' documents filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Silver Spring Networks as of the date hereof. Silver Spring Networks assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
