Electric Utility Consortium to Deploy New MicroPlanet Product That Improves Efficiency of Existing Transmission & Distribution Infrastructure.Energy Editors/Business Editors EDMONDS, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 17, 2003 New Technology from MicroPlanet Maximizes Capacity of Current Grid MicroPlanet, Ltd. announced today that the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance has selected the company's new Home Voltage Regulator An electronic circuit used to maintain a level amount of voltage in an electrical line. It eliminates power surges, spikes and brownouts, which can cause harm to sensitive electronics. A voltage regulator "module" (VRM) is a voltage regulator in a replaceable unit. See surge suppression and UPS. (TM) (HVR HVR Hover HVR Haveri (India) HVR Havre, MT, USA - City County (Airport Code) HVR Home Video Recorder HVR High Volume Retailer HVR High Voltage Relay HVR High Volume Repetitive (TM)) for a technology transfer program designed to maximize the reliability and efficiency of the region's electricity grid. The Alliance is a non-profit group of electric utilities, state governments, public interest groups and efficiency industry representatives. Energy experts and industry analysts expect a significant increase in the cost of electricity driven in large part by the expected rise in natural gas prices over the foreseeable future. "As the marginal cost Marginal cost The increase or decrease in a firm's total cost of production as a result of changing production by one unit. marginal cost The additional cost needed to produce or purchase one more unit of a good or service. of power increases and MicroPlanet is able to capture economies of scale in production thereby reducing the cost of its products, the cost-benefit of installing HVRs will become quite compelling," according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Michael Sheehan Michael Sheehan may refer to:
MicroPlanet's new energy efficiency technology is featured in the company's series of voltage regulators that monitor and adjust the voltage that is delivered from a power line to a commercial building or home. Regulating the voltage can reduce the amount of electrical energy needed by 10-20 percent, depending on the average line voltage. According to the Alliance and other leading industry experts, a one-percent reduction in line voltage is equal to a 1-2 percent reduction in electricity usage. (The average user would see 5 to 10 percent reduction in energy costs.) As part of a multi-year initiative to improve the efficiency of the Pacific Northwest electric distribution system, the Alliance will deploy MicroPlanet's voltage regulators as a new tool for reducing peak load demand and increasing efficiency in distributing electric power. The products can also be used to help integrate distributed generation Distributed generation generates electricity from many small energy sources. It has also been called also called on-site generation, dispersed generation, embedded generation, decentralized generation, decentralized energy or products such as fuel cells, micro-turbines, and residential wind turbines in the transmission infrastructure and provide support for facilities with chronic low voltage Low voltage is an electrical engineering term that broadly identifies safety considerations of an electricity supply system based on the voltage used. While different definitions exist for the exact voltage range covered by "low voltage", the most commonly used ones include "mains . As a result of its flexibility this technology will play a pivotal role in the grid In the Grid is a game show that airs on UK broadcaster Five at 6.30pm week nights. It first aired on Monday 30 October 2006. In the Grid is hosted by Les Dennis and is produced by Initial West, one of the Endemol UK companies. of the future. "Environmental concerns, ever increasing power demand, siting concerns related to new transmission infrastructure and a decrease in spending for new power generation has made it imperative that utilities pursue new technologies that maximize our current power supply," said Jeff Harris
Jeffrey Austin (Jeff) Harris , Senior Manager of Project Development for the Alliance (www.nwalliance.org). "MicroPlanet's products will reduce power consumption, effectively increasing available capacity for the servicing electric utility without capital investment in generation or transmission infrastructure. As a result the MicroPlanet Home Voltage Regulator(TM) (HVR(TM)) offers the hope of a more efficient grid that will reduce the amount of energy that is wasted in the distribution process." The Alliance program - called the Distribution Efficiency Initiative - has made an initial purchase of 500 HVRs which are a new generation of point of consumption utility infrastructure products offering selective implementation of voltage regulation Voltage regulation The change in voltage magnitude that occurs when the load (at a specified power factor) is reduced from the rated or nominal value to zero, with no intentional manual readjustment of any voltage control, expressed in percent of nominal (VR). Utility companies in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana will participate in the program, with installations in homes and commercial sites beginning December 2003. The Alliance purchase is one of several successful technology validation activities already completed by MicroPlanet with the global electric utility industry. "The Alliance is in discussion with nearly 15 electric utilities participating in its project, potentially bringing MicroPlanet's installed base of utilities to around 25 and includes global players such as United Kingdom-based Scottish Power. We believe that MicroPlanet's HVR will help usher in a new era in energy efficiency where technology will help lower both the operating costs and capital expenditures of electric utilities while delivering more energy with existing generation, transmission and distribution assets," said Brian Reidy, CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of MicroPlanet, Ltd. "In the wake of the largest blackout in U.S. history, both power producers and energy consumers are searching for new solutions that improve reliability and reduce costs." "The MicroPlanet HVR is one of the most exciting electric utility infrastructure products to launch in years," said John Goodfellow, Managing Director, Business Analysis and Development of Quanta quan·ta n. Plural of quantum. Services (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange : PWR PWR pressurized-water reactor Noun 1. PWR - a nuclear reactor that uses water as a coolant and moderator; the steam produced can drive a steam turbine pressurized water reactor ), a provider of network solutions to utilities. "The technology will help Quanta address many of the key pain points that we see consistently across our customer base of large electric utilities." In addition to the Alliances initiative, Reidy cited a $131 million program announced on August 19 by the Canadian government that will provide cash rebates to encourage consumers to choose more energy-efficient appliances and vehicles." "One of the last frontiers of energy conservation is to conquer the energy wasted in delivering power to business and residential users," said Reidy. "Clearly, government, industry and environmental groups share a common urgency to squeeze the most from the current power infrastructure." About MicroPlanet, Ltd. Based in Edmonds, Washington, MicroPlanet, Ltd. manufactures and sells products for electrical energy conservation and voltage compliance to large corporations and electric utilities. MicroPlanet's Enterprise Voltage Regulator (EVR EVR Enhanced Vapor Recovery EVR Electronic Video Recording EVR Equine Viral Rhinopneumonitis EVR Extravehicular Robotics EVR Expanded Virtual Register EVR Exudative Vitreoretinopathy, Familial, Autosomal Dominant EVR Eläinten Vapautus Rintama ) and Home Voltage Regulator (HVR) regulate the voltage delivered to a business or home, reducing the amount of electricity needed. The products also provide electric utilities a new tool for peak load reduction, conservation, low voltage mitigation and an interface for distributed generation. For more information about MicroPlanet, go to www.microplanetltd.com MicroPlanet, Home Voltage Regulator and HVR are trademarks of MicroPlanet, Ltd. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are those of their respective companies. |
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