Brazilian potential for smart grids attracts American firm

The size of the Brazilian electric power is a full plate for companies that work with smart grid technologies (intelligent networks). With about 65 million analog meters installed, the country promises to be a good destination for multinationals like American Silver Spring Networks (SSN), the leading provider of intelligent platforms for energy distributors.

This week, the company opened an office in Sao Paulo. "We want to have a direct relationship with our customers," said the report in the Journal of Energy general manager of new global business SSN, Carlos Ramon (pictured). According to the executive, who prefers not to reveal names, some negotiations with Brazilian utilities are in progress.

According to Ramon, the company's technology consists of hardware that is coupled to the electronic meter and enables the distributor to control and manage the grid, while the consumer gets the opportunity to monitor consumption. In the U.S., the company has worked with utilities that serve 20% of all consumers nationwide. Among the company's customers is Pacific Gas and Electric Company which has taken six million meters of the platform.

In Brazil, Silver Spring will work in partnership with Nansen, a manufacturer of meters. Ramon explained that the agreement consists of a collaboration between the two companies and aims to offer customers an integrated solution that adds value to products.

For Carlos Ramon, Brazil is experiencing a period of learning with regard to the deployment of technologies that let the electric grid smarter. "We're doing a work of evangelization. The Brazilian market is in a stage of education and initial evidence, "he says. According to him, in the U.S. this process took about two years. "In 2008, no one spoke about smart grid in the United States. Today, a concessionaire that is not doing anything in this direction is lagging. The same we see in Australia and England, "he says.

The company estimates it possible to reduce energy consumption by 15% with the introduction of intelligent platforms for energy. Furthermore, it is possible to reduce the operational cost of utilities, improving customer service and optimize the environmental aspects, avoiding construction of new plants.

Factory
The hardware that are used by the company in the electronic meters are manufactured in a unit located in the United States. However, Ramon ensures that the company works with the possibility of bringing a manufacturing plant in Brazil. "Our commitment in Brazil is the long term. The production of these components within the Brazilian market would bring more momentum to our business, "he says.