Energy Industry management needs
Energy transmission and distribution companies have tele-control networks which are required to meet stretching availability and reliability targets. Energy distribution and transmission companies implementing the management of these tele-control networks are facing challenges already addressed and solved by communications companies over the last decade or so.
Energy Industry Drivers
The global focus on reducing carbon emissions is requiring energy companies to use new renewable and low carbon energy sources. In turn this leads to new sources and locations of energy supply and dynamic patterns of energy flows due in part to intermittent renewable energy supplies.
This increased complexity of energy flows, and the plans to introduce Smart Metering Infrastructure as part of ‘Smart Grids’ to manage and regulate consumption demand, will create new challenges for the management of tele-control networks. Many of these challenges are similar to those addressed by communications service providers in introducing intelligence and electronic devices at the periphery of the networks e.g. DSL devices.
Purpose of community
Many of our members are active in the energy industry and there is a ground swell of TM Forum member interest to establish a community focal point for coordinated discussion about activities in this area.
The activities we envisage might be discussed include:
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Best practice in applying TM Forum Frameworx and artefacts to support Energy industry needs for telecontrol and Smart Grids.
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Proposals for specific TM Forum Program work to address energy industry needs for management and Smart Grids.
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Provide input to the TM Forum Strategic planning and Product management processes. ·
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Exchange members’ opinions experience and issues.
Orientation collateral
Two of our members, Western Power and Clarity have worked to implement integrated End to end management capability based on Business Process Framework ( aka eTOM ) and information is posted at the CIGRE Osaka 2009 conference.
See http://www.cigre2009-d2.jp/html/03key/key.html
An orientation pack has been contributed by Clarity to the community which overviews the standardisation challenges for the Energy transmission and distribution industry as they evolve to support renewables, and Smart Grids:
Note this will come on stream by 7th June 2010.