Competition in the nascent “smart grid” industry is heating up, with Microsoft and Alcatel-Lucent yesterday both making moves aimed at strengthening their presence in the market.

 

Microsoft yesterday announced it had developed a reference architecture for smart grid technology.

 

The Smart Energy Reference Architecture (SERA) aims to help smart device developers ensure interoperability via the use a set of common standards, Microsoft said.

 

“As utilities attempt to develop new projects that are funded by national smart grid stimulus programs, they will need sound, tested technologies that help them proceed,” a company spokesperson said.

 

Microsoft said it worked with power companies such as Alstom power to ensure SERA addresses their needs.

 

Alcatel-Lucent, meanwhile, said its R&D arm Bell Labs will join forces with researchers from a Korean university to develop its own smart grid solutions.

 

Bell Labs and the Gachon energy research institute of Korea's Kyungwon University said they will develop communication infrastructure, security systems and business models for smart grid systems.

 

The Grid 2.0 research program builds on Alcatel-Lucent's efforts delivering smart grid solutions to utility companies in Australia, New Zealand, France and the US, the company said.