U.S. IT Giant to Develop UK Energy Network-

U.S.-based IBM Corp. has announced an agreement with UK energy research and development league, Energy Technologies Institute (ETI), to gauge the impact of plug-in electric vehicles on the electricity grid when a rapid upsurge occurs. The collaboration will examine whether the current grid is capable of sustaining a substantial increase in electricity, and will also help determine if the grid will require revamping to offer improved service. IBM, alongside IT giants such as Cisco and HP, is dedicated to lending its expertise in improving the UK’s ‘smart grids’ and smart meters; an effort considered vital toward increasing efficacy of the nation’s energy network. In a recent study, IBM said it will be exploring areas such as “design concepts for the ‘intelligent architecture’ of interconnected data and systems needed to enable local networks of electric vehicle charging points linked to the distribution networks.” The UK government has offered roughly £300 million to the infrastructure project, with ETI providing £4.5 million from its Electrification of Light Vehicles program. “Electric vehicles have enormous potential for creating a cleaner transport system to help the UK meet its 2050 carbon reduction targets. However, there is uncertainty over the pace of vehicle development, consumer take up and patterns of usage and charging. It is important we anticipate the likely requirements these developments will have for grid enhancement and the need for an intelligent architecture,” said Jon Bentley, energy & environment Partner, IBM Global Business Services. Besides their ‘smart grid’ development partnership, IBM is also focusing on carbon-intensive markets such as oil and gas. In a report released late last year, Global Oil & Gas – The Adaptation Challenge, the corporation indicates that oil and gas companies can utilize IT systems – undoubtedly from IBM – to minimize the business impacts of climate change on their prospective bottom line.