SMART GRID GROUPS

The GridWise Architecture Council (GWAC)  is formed by  the U.S Department of Energy to promote and enable interoperability among the entities that interact the nation's (USA) electric grid. The team members are respected leaders of the industry and belongs from diverse constituency of electric utility supply chain. Ron Ambrosio (May 2004 - Dec 2011) Global Research Leader, IBM Energy and Utilities Industry, IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center is the current chairman of the organization.

Global Intelligent Utility Network: IBM established global coalition of Innovative utility companies in 2007. The coalition wants to add digital intelligence to the network, reduce outages and faults, and integrated renewable energy resources like wind and solar. The objective is to share the best practices and ideas through in-person meeting, virtual conferences, benchmarks their efforts, share knowledge on critical issues, and undertake collaborative initiatives. The coalition developed Smart Grid Maturity Model that is being used by 60 utility companies worldwide. NDPL is the only Indian utility company that is part of this network.

Zigbee Alliance is an association of group of companies to develop open global standards for wireless network and for various consumer, commercial, and industrial products The primary focus is to define the network, security, and application layer.

SmartGrid Consumer Coalition :       It is a non-profit consumer advocacy organization. The objective is to bring together utilities, suppliers, vendors, consumer advocacy groups, and associations to better understand consumer needs in the Smart Grid Universe. The group will carryout consumer centric research, educate them about Smart Grid, and will share the best practices with the members.

 GridWise Alliance was founded in year 2003. GridWise Alliance represents broad group of stakeholders like large tech companies, academia, venture capitalists, transmission companies, and utilities. The objective of the organization is to facilitate effective collaboration among all the stakeholders and to educate and advocate adoption of innovative Smart Grid solution for the benefit of the stakeholders, communities, customers, and shareholders.

Center for Study of Science, Technology, and Policy  (CSTEP) is a private, non-profit organization with an objective to carry out research in science, engineering, and technology that can be beneficial to country's economic and human development. CSTEP will serve as knowledge partner and adviser to Smart Grid India Forum established by Government of India. CSTEP published Smart Grid India white paper detailing the Smart Grid in Indian environment.

Demand Response and Smart Grid Coalition is the trade association for companies that are dealing in Demand Response, Smart Meter, and Smart Grid technologies. DRSG plays supportive role to educate policymakers, financial institution, utilities, media, and other stakeholders that how the smart grid technologies like demand response and smart meters are going to benefit the consumers, the companies, and the society as a whole. More than 50 companies and associations like Zigbee Alliance and Universal Powerline Association are the member of this organization.


Global Smart Grid Federation : The organization is the association of "associations" of the Smart Grid stakeholders at global level.  The network will facilitate cooperation in Smart Grid policy, Smart Grid standards, regulations, finance, technology, research development, demonstration, workforce skills and knowledge development, and consumer participation at all levels.

India Smart Grid Forum: It is a non-profit, voluntary consortium of public and private stakeholders set up by Government of India. The prime objective of the forum is to accelerate development of Smart Grid technology in India. India Smart Grid Forum is also a member organization of Global Smart Grid federation. Ministry of Power, India is going to be the patron and Power finance Corporation(PFC) and Rural Electric Corporation (REC) are permanent invitee of the forum. Initially, the members will be selected through invitation which will include selected state power utilities, private power utilities, empaneled System Integrators, SCADA Consultants and Implementing Agencies of R-APDRP, power sector PSUs (public sector undertakings), selected educational and research institutes, NGOs, Central Electricity Authority (CEA), Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC), Central Power Research Institute (CPRI), Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) ,and NASSCOM. CSTEP will be knowledge partner and adviser to the forum.


Peak Load Management Alliance (PLMA) : The PLMA is an association of leading diverse energy professionals and organizations. The organization is dedicated to promoting and developing consumer participation in electricity markets around the world. The current members includes companies like EnerNOC, Itron, Duke Energy, Comverge Inc., Brattel Group, Tendril Inc., OPower, EnergryConnect,Utilimetrices, Oracle, and others. PLMA is open to any organization interested in Demand Response.


India Smart Grid Task Force
The Smart Grid Task Force (ISGTF) was constituted under the Chairmanship of Shri Sam Pitroda, Adviser to Prime Minister, Government of India on Public Information Infrastructure and Innovation. The Smart Grid Task Force is an inter ministerial group and serves as Government’s focal point for activities related to “Smart Grid”.  The main functions of the Smart Grid Task Force to ensure awareness, coordination and integration of the diverse activities related to smart Grid technologies, practices and services for Smart Grid Research and Development; Co-ordinate and integrate other relevant inter governmental activities; Collaborate on interoperability frame work; Review and validate the recommendations from India Smart Grid Forum etc.