After three successful pilot projects with TEA clients, eSmart Systems and TEA (The Energy Authority) have signed a strategic partnership agreement to deliver analytics services.
On March 2nd TEA announced the launch of “TEA Connected Analytics” as a service on their Energy Symposium in Jacksonville, Florida.
Valuable partnership
The two companies have now conducted three successful pilot projects with TEA clients, and as a result, they have signed a strategic partnership agreement to deliver analytics services to clients of TEA in the US.
This initial success and partnership with TEA is of great value to our market expansion in North America. In addition to getting access to a large share of the utility market in the US, we will also get a partner with a long and deep understanding of the utility market and a strong IT and analytics practice
New core service
TEA is currently serving more than 50 public power utilities nationwide from their headquarter in Jacksonville, Florida, with additional offices in Seattle (Bellevue), Washington.
The new core service from TEA has gotten the name ‘TEA Connected Analytics’ and together we will continue to build and offer new analytics services to their clients
Provides expertise
The service is based on eSmart Systems’ Connected Utility platform, which will provide the underlying data management and machine learning analysis systems. The Connected Utility platform is built in close cooperation with Microsoft, based on their Microsoft Azure services.
“One of the advantages with our collaboration is, not only does eSmart Systems have a very rich toolset in the connected grid application, but the approach to how they implement projects and the support that they provide behind that, and of course; the essence of who they are as a company, comments Tom Harvey, CIO of The Energy Authority.
See how TEA benefits from using the eSmart Systems software in delivering services to JEA, a municipal utility with more than 455,000 electric, 337,000 water and 261,000 sewer customers in Florida:
- Read also: TEA and eSmart Systems enter agreement to initiate strategic partnership
- Read also: eSmart Systems Opens New US Headquarter
Last summer, eSmart Systems was presented as the Norwegian ISV of the year by Microsoft. Tuesday, the prize was handed out – and the company celebrated with cake.
This recognition means that the choses we make are noticed. We are a software house and work with Microsoft technology, which makes it even more enjoyable that Microsoft thinks we are best at what we do in our country. It is important for recruitment as well
On Tuesday, three representatives from Microsoft Norway showed up at eSmart Systems’ offices in Halden to present and hand out the physical proof of the award ISV (independent software vendor) of the year 2017 – revealing that the prize was won in competition with more than a thousand companies.
“It was really easy to draw the conclusion that the prize for 2017, as it was for 2015, again is given to eSmart Systems”, says John Henrik Andersen, Senior Director Business Development at Microsoft, before handing over the glass framed and engraved award to Johansen.
Digitally disruptive
The idea behind the award is to recognize the Microsoft partners which lead the way in the industry’s digital transformation.
Microsoft has always been and is still today a partner-led company with a huge ecosystem that enabled millions of Windows users to be more productive in the PC era. In today’s cloud world, partners are again playing the central role in enabling millions of enterprises and their users to transform their businesses digitally
We want to recognize Independent Software (ISV) partners for the outstanding job they are doing to help companies globally move to cloud and digitally disrupt their industry
He adds
“Well deserved”
Shafique’s job is to help companies such as eSmart Systems to succeed commercially and help grow the company’s business on Microsoft’s cloud platform. For the past three years, he has helped to build eSmart Systems’ solution, both from a business and a tech side.
Shafique makes clear that eSmart Systems is a very deserving prize winner, and has few problems explaining why:
“In just four years, they have accomplished something most tech startups only dream about; they have paying global customers across several continents.”
He notes the fact that the industry is known for being conservative, but now faces challenges to its business model and needs to meet with the new demand from the environment aware prosumers.
“eSmart Systems has solved this new change by using the world’s most advanced technology while building a viable business. The company truly understands the customer’s need and have priced their product based on the value that they are generating for their customers”, Shafique emphasizes.
More hard work
Erik Åsberg, CTO at eSmart Systems and Microsoft Regional Director, is pleased with both the award and the fine words.
If we can follow up with more awards, it will have an even stronger effect. For example, we can get better at promoting ourselves in the market and in recruitment processes
he notes
As for now, the hard work towards developing and improving the celebrated software solution continues.
We continuously work on developing our cloud-based platform further, and we can see that our products are starting to get more and more attention in the market
says Åsberg
Digital intelligence experts eSmart Systems and digital chart experts Electronic Chart Centre (ECC) join forces to deliver world-class map technology.
Together, we work in a disruptive reality and develop solutions with huge potential, both in Norway and the rest of the world. This collaboration will become the core in developing Thundercloud, our end-to-end solution for energy companies
This week Johansen’s company signed an important contract with Electronic Chart Centre (ECC), which marks the beginning of a new and groundbreaking collaboration.
Secures total overview
The idea is that we deliver our chart solution to eSmart’s Connected Thundercloud solutions, which is flexible and adaptable to fit the need of the customer. Our core competence lies in making the chart interface as smooth, understandable and logic as possible
ECC is a state-owned company which provides a niche centre of expertise for the collection, quality management and distribution of Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs) globally. Their work involves ensuring the Norwegian Air Ambulance has updated maps at all times, and can fly and land safely.
“For us, the collaboration is important for several reasons. It has to do with safety, security and overview. Just like helicopter flights need approval from the Civil Aviation Authority, we need approval before flying our drones, notes Johansen.
“eSmart exploits the potential”
ECC has developed Norway’s most downloaded navigational app, called NaVida. It is the first and only mobile application based on the best and most updated Norwegian map since the Norwegian Mapping Authority release of viewing services on December 1st, 2009.
From our side, the goal is to provide value to a new industry and deliver a solution that we have spent much time and energy developing
explains Bøe. She adds
“We would like to reuse the technology and at the same time develop it further, alongside someone who can exploit its full potential. As two Norwegian companies, we wish to make each other better.
World-class technology
Tore Lie, project manager at eSmart Systems, emphasizes the fact that the two collaboration partners aim to do something no-one else has done before them.
What we are developing together, is actually world-class map technology. We are aboput to solve something that has not been done before
comments Lie
“Together, we know that we can deliver a ‘best-in-class’ solution, while at the same time providing certain societal benefits. This collaboration is win-win-win. Not just for the ECC and eSmart Systems, but for the client as well, supplements CEO of ECC, Ralph Daber.
About Electronic Chart Centre:
- A state-owned company which provides a niche centre of expertise for the collection, quality management and distribution of Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs) globally.
- ECC was founded in 1999 and is located in Stavanger, Norway.
- The company’s vision is to contribute to greater safety and security, lower costs and enhanced efficiency at sea and on land by rapidly developing technology to fit clients’ needs.
About eSmart Systems:
- eSmart Systems develops digital intelligence for the energy industry and smart communities.
- The company is based on more than 20 years of international experience in establishing and operating knowledge-based, leading IT and energy-related companies targeting global markets.
- The company’s platform is designed to handle and exploit the Internet of Things, Big Data and Analytics in real time.
Kragerø Energi AS becomes the sixth company to utilize and operate Connected Drone Image Analysis, an intelligent assistant based on eSmart Systems’ Connected Platform.
The product provides an overview of pictures from completed power line inspections. The imported picture material is used to visualize the condition of line components in the physical grid. Analysis is carried out using machine learning and leading analysis methods, and is processed with unique velocity
More efficient process
The grid company Kragerø Energi AS was one of eSmart Systems’ first collaboration partners in the revolutionary Connected Drone project. This week the two companies signed a contract enabling Kragerø Energi to start utilizing and operating Connected Drone Image Analysis.
By using our artificial intelligence (AI) as a tool, the process of detecting errors in the power grid gets more efficient. The software identifies these errors before they occur
Connected Drone Image Analysis is a product that will give the grid companies greater value of the image material they already have
He adds
Opens new possibilities
CEO of Kragerø Energi AS, Geir Elsebutangen, notes that the collaboration also opens unique possibilities.
“eSmart Systems’ R&D projects provides smaller grid companies with the opportunity to participate and acquire important competence and technology, says Elsebutangen.
Troms Kraft Nett entered Astrum in January, a three-year R&D project focusing on AMI operations, grid operations, grid development and grid maintenance.
The objective is to make an intelligent decision support tool for the operation and advantage of smart grids. The project addresses solutions for the industry based on brand new technology using artificial intelligence and machine learning.
The grid industry and Troms Kraft Nett are facing major challenges in the future. We need to invest in an aging power grid, while it is important to think new and smart in order to make effective use of the company’s resources. This requires good decisions based on available and relevant information. We are therefore very pleased to be part of the Astrum project led by eSmart Systems. Here we can solve our future challenges in cooperation with competent partners
We appreciate that Troms Kraft Nett has chosen eSmart Systems as a long-term partner in systems for AMI and utilities. We are really looking forward to starting the collaboration through the Astrum project together with the four other highly competent partners
In addition to Troms Kraft Nett and eSmart Systems, Glitre Energi Nett, SFE Nett, Ringeriks-Kraft Nett and Norgesnett are participants in the project.
SFE Nett and eSmart Systems have signed an agreement for the delivery of Connected Grid.
Since 2013, eSmart Systems has been developing Connected Grid in close cooperation with DSO’s SFE Nett, Norgesnett, Ringeriks-Kraft Nett and Glitre Energi Nett through an industrial research and development project. Connected Grid is an intelligent top system based entirely on a forward-looking architecture utilizing cloud services, IoT, Big Data and digital intelligence.
We look forward to use Connected Grid to capitalize on our investments in a smarter grid, by giving better operational control and make greater value out of the vast amount of data we collect in the future
We are very pleased that SFE Nett has chosen to go in operative use with Connected Grid. We strongly believe that our technology will lead to significant savings for SFE Nett
On November 8th, 2017, Norway’s and the world’s largest electronic security supplier entered a partnership agreement with a corresponding world-leading supplier of artificial intelligence and machine learning. The parties will collaborate on deliveries of innovative, forward-looking solutions in the welfare and security sector.
Stanley Security is a leading company within electronic security in Norway and the world. The company has long roots both nationally and internationally and is considered the preferred supplier of alarm security, security cameras and access control solutions related to one of Norway’s most technologically advanced alarm and 24/7 response centers.
For a long time, we have been looking for an innovative partner who can lift our own digitization process, while also being so complementary that we can have a concrete market cooperation. This collaboration between Stanley and eSmart Systems provides this combination, enabling us to deliver smart and future-oriented security services to our customers
Exploring New Opportunities
Together, eSmart Systems and Stanley Security focus heavily on innovation and development of future security services. Entering a partner agreement, the companies show that they will work together to explore new technological opportunities in emerging markets such as Internet of Things (IoT), Smart Office, Smart Home, Welfare Technology and Smart City.
eSmart Systems develops digital intelligence for the energy industry and smart communities. The company is based on more than 20 years of international experience in establishing and managing knowledge-based, leading IT and energy-related companies targeting global markets.
Previously, the parties have entered an agreement for delivery of a backend support system for a new and flexible alarm solution at Stanley Security. This solution handles incoming alarms and connects them to Stanley Security’s 24-hour alert station.
eSmart Systems is responsible for software delivery, while eSmart Systems’ subsidiary, E2U, has entered a similar agreement for hardware and logistics delivery. Stanley Security delivers the service – including surveillance and alarm service – to their end customers.
Equipped for Further Development
With a platform allowing the usage of IoT and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for collecting market-leading data, the partners are well equipped for further development as well as reduction of operating costs.
The cooperation with Stanley Security is important to us in eSmart Systems. Stanley Security is large on security both nationally and internationally. Through this collaboration we will be able to deliver competitive solutions and services to the security market, which shows the width of our platform’s areas of application
Using eSmart Systems’ solutions in the field of AI and machine learning at Stanley Security, the security giant will be able to improve existing market offerings. For example, they could reduce the number of false alarms with subsequent callouts or achieve faster and better response on alarms. They will also be able to create predictive safety analyzes, where it will be possible to uncover unwanted events before they occur.
The signing of the new partnership agreement took place in the Simulation Center at Remmen Business Park in Halden, Wednesday, November 8th.
Read also (external link): Inngår partnerskap med verdensledende selskap
eSmart Systems and Border States Electric to bring drone technology and high-end analytics to U.S. utility industry.
FARGO, N.D. — Innovations in the power generation and utility industries are leading to safer, more efficient ways to inspect infrastructure, and detect outages and leaks. For more than five years, researchers have been looking for ways to improve the safety and efficiency of the utility industry using drone technology to inspect electric, gas and oil infrastructure.
Monday, eSmart Systems Inc., U.S. announced they finalized an agency agreement with Border States Electric (BSE) to provide eSmart Systems’ Thundercloud, Connected Drone and Connected Grid systems to customers in the 48 contiguous states. Both companies have been instrumental in advancing the technology specifically for the utility and power generation industries.
Thundercloud is an end-to-end solution for infrastructure inspections, featuring the Connected Grid and Connected Drone software components. The main client, Connected Grid, provides real-time monitoring of the grid allowing operators access to detect faults, plan maintenance needs while reducing investments and reduce costs related to outages. The Connected Drone uses artificial intelligence to catalog infrastructure components and monitor their health. The results are used to view infrastructure status and provide a basis for maintenance tasks. This not only brings a significant safety component to the inspection of utility assets using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV’s), or drones, but allows for safe, efficient, reliable and intelligent grid operations.
Gerald “Poke” Buck, BSE’s senior vice president utility sales, said, “The Thundercloud, Connected Drone and Connected Grid solutions from eSmart Systems are just what our utility, gas and oil customers have been asking for. We are thrilled about our new relationship with eSmart Systems and the high-quality, end-to-end, complete solutions that we will be supplying to the utility and industrial markets.”
The partnership with BSE is an important milestone for eSmart Systems and our continued growth in the U.S. market. We are very excited to work with an industry leader such as BSE to further advance the applications of drones, big data analytics and intelligent asset management through our Thundercloud solution, to help utilities and their customers across the U.S. to lower costs and experience a more reliable service.
Read the full press release here.
About BSE
BSE supplies products and services to construction, industrial and utility customers. The 100 percent employee-owned company is rated the seventh largest electrical distributor in the U.S. by Electrical Wholesaling magazine. BSE has more than 2,500 employees and 111 branches in 20 states. The Branch Support Center (corporate office) is located in Fargo, North Dakota.
About eSmart Systems
eSmart Systems develops digital intelligence for the energy industry and smart communities. The company is based on more than 20 years of international experience in establishing and operating knowledge based, leading IT and energy related companies targeting global markets. eSmart Systems provides software solutions to the energy industry, service providers and smart cities. Its platform is designed to handle and exploit the Internet of Things, Big Data and Analytics in real time. It has broad application possibilities that give grid operators insight into their distribution network.
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TEA and eSmart Systems help JEA restore power to Hurricane Irma victims.
JACKSONVILLE – September 15, 2017
In the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, JEA, the largest municipal utility in Florida, was able to deploy advanced drone technology to safely and quickly assess damage from the storm. As an owner of The Energy Authority (TEA), a non-profit Data Analytics, Energy Trading, and Risk Management company, JEA has full access to many unique resources. For example, TEA utilizes eSmart Systems’ (eSmart) Connected Grid© software to perform big data analytics functions for the benefit of JEA and other public power utilities. As Irma approached the Florida peninsula, TEA and eSmart identified an opportunity to help JEA in its post-storm recovery.
While JEA currently has four employees licensed as drone operators, eSmart and its partner firm, SkySkopes, were able to provide the equipment, expertise, certifications, and cutting edge software features to quickly add capacity and structure to JEA’s efforts that delivered information in real time to work crews more safely and quickly than could be accomplished otherwise.
We at eSmart Systems are once again proud to be a valued partner of TEA to bring solutions to its utility members. And no solution could be more important than helping the people of Florida to more quickly and safely get their lights back on after Hurricane Irma
From Harvey to Irma
Prior to the storm, SkySkopes’ operators arrived in Jacksonville from Houston where they had recently been providing similar services to assist Texas utilities in recovering from Hurricane Harvey. The team weathered the storm in a downtown hotel so they were assembled and ready to begin operations as soon as wind speeds were at a safe level.
“Safety is always our highest priority, but SkySkopes is also constantly striving to find use-cases for small unmanned aircraft to benefit partners and clients. Using our advanced aircraft, sensors, mobile command stations, and professional UAS pilots we were able to successfully demonstrate the unique value of new aerial data collection methods to TEA, JEA, and eSmart Systems in hurricane damage assessment. Every day we save in the delivery of critical data to a utility such as JEA can save weeks in elements of the recovery process, which ultimately means value to their customers,” said Matt Dunlevy, President and CEO of SkySkopes, Inc.
Proactively Forming Strategic Partnerships
The flight crews went into action on Tuesday, September 12. They were used to assess damage and flooding without putting human crews at risk while relaying essential information that prepared JEA crews to repair damage quickly when they arrived at an impacted site. Additionally, eSmart’s mobile operations center, ThunderCloud©, was driven out to affected areas to serve as a base for flying inspection drones along power lines. A major advantage of the state-of-the-art unmanned aerial systems used by SkySkopes is that they employ machine learning and provide live steaming video to utility professionals who could remotely detect damage or monitor repair and recovery efforts.
JEA strives to provide excellent service to its customers. Collaborating with companies at the forefront of software and drone technology operations is a great example of how JEA proactively forms strategic partnerships and leverages them to innovate and constantly improve our critical response processes
TEA actively seeks out and builds relationships with industry partners that provide public power with the advantage of flexibility, faster response time, adaptability, and cutting-edge technology. When the stakes are high, like unprecedented hurricane conditions, TEA’s relationships enable public power utilities as they perform essential restoration services to their customers and communities.
Find the full press release here.
Read also: Norwegian eSmart Systems Helps Unpowered Americans After Hurricane “Irma”
Read also: Thundercloud Launched in the USA
By using drones and Artificial Intelligence (AI), Halden-based eSmart Systems aims to help provide Americans with power as soon as possible.
We assist the US authorities with damage control and with finding problems in the power grid as quickly as possible
Representatives from the company are now in place in Florida to assist US power companies in clearing up after the storm.
This article is translated from the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK). Read the full article (in Norwegian) here.
Over six million homes and companies lost power due to destructions caused by hurricane “Irma” in Florida. Local power vendors say it will take weeks before the power grid is 100 percent up and running again.
A great part of the challenge is to find the fractures in the power lines – and here is where eSmart Systems comes in.
We have a mobile operational center consisting of a truck, equipped with all necessary soft- and hardware for identifying grid destructions. This mobile operational center is driven out to actual areas, before flying inspection drones along the power lines while collecting and analyzing data continuously. That way, we can locate fractures quickly
Johansen explains
Developing for Usage on Infrastructure
Data collected by the inspection drones, is analyzed using AI. Machine Learning enables the system to learn from the data it collects; gradually becoming better at identifying fractures and damages in the power grid single-handedly.
eSmart Systems is now working to further developing their technology so that it can be used on other types of infrastructure.
Read also: Thundercloud Launched in the USA