Cisco is joining an accelerator project in Glasgow, which will research and demonstrate smart grid technologies to help modernize Britain’s power infrastructure. 

The Power Networks Demonstration Centre (PNDC) alliance based at the University of Strathclyde contains functioning districution networks at 11kV and low voltage. It is supported by university researchers, academics, and government and industry representatives. including Scottish Enterprise, Scottish and Southern Energy, UK Power Networks, Vodafone, and the Scottish Funding Council.

Smart energy grids for Britain 

By developing monitoring and control systems to manage energy in real time, together with the necessary infrastructure and security to cope with the increase in devices connected to the energy network, the group hopes to support innovation in the utilities industry.

Scot Gardner, Cisco’s UK and Ireland chief executive said: “There are few sectors that have the potential to both impact and be impacted by digitization in such equal measure. With an anticipated 50 billion devices connected to the Internet by 2020, the pressure placed on power networks – whether directly, or indirectly - is set to increase exponentially in the next decade. This is a pivotal point in time for the sector, and we are delighted to be partnering with the PNDC and its members to help address the opportunities that lie ahead.”

DCD and guests will be discussing the implementation of sustainable strategies within the digital infrastructure at the Energy Smart conference in Amsterdam, in June.