Norgesnett and eSmart Systems have signed an agreement for the delivery of Connected Grid.

After a two and half year industrial research and development program to develop eSmart Systems’ Connected Grid, Norgesnett is now live. The IRD project has been a collaboration between Norgesnett, Sogn og Fjordane Energi, Glitre Energi Nett, Ringeriks-Kraftnett and eSmart Systems. Program funding was contributed by Innovation Norway.

Connected Grid is Norgesnett’s core system for AMI reading and management.

What’s most exciting with this platform is its capacity to perform advanced analytics on large volumes of data in real time through its use of machine learning and cloud-based computing power

Eilert Henriksen
Norgesnett CEO

Connected Grid is an intelligent top system that provides utility companies decision support for optimal operation, maintenance and planning of grids. The system collects data from internal and external sources, perform real-time analysis, and visualize data in dashboards designed for smarter, faster and better decisions.

We are very pleased that one of the most forward-leaning and innovative grid operators in Norway decide to go in operative use with Connected Grid. This will bring results in terms of reduced costs, increased efficiency and most importantly, a better service

Knut H. H. Johansen
CEO of eSmart Systems

We are only in the starting blocks of tremendous changes ahead. Over the next few years we’ll see major changes in how power grids are managed and operated. Connected Grid is Norgesnett’s most important digital investment in its bid to realize a truly smart grid

Eilert Henriksen

Thursday June 1st, eSmart Systems hosted the most important arrangement in the company’s history so far. The Connected Drone Launch brought 120 customers and partners to Halden, reached over 21.000 people by live stream and was broadcasted on the radio in Fargo, USA.

Connected Drone and the Thundercloud concept created great interest in Halden. The custom made Ford Ranger for drone inspections of powerlines was particurlarly exciting.

Grid operators, partners and customers from all over Norway were invited for the big happening at Remmen Business Park in Halden June 1st. 2017. Interested parties from Germany, Denmark and Sweden were also represented.

The day offered major demonstrations, presentations and surprises. 

eSmart Systems’ R&D project Connected Drone started in January 2016, with a planned duration of three years. Up until now, it has “only” been a project, but with the launch on Thursday 1st., Connected Drone is also hitting the market as a product ready for use.

This is the most important arrangement in eSmart Systems’ history. We want to communicate to the world that we now have a product which can totally change the way one uses inspection data

Knut Johansen
eSmart Systems CEO

The project goal is to make power line inspections safer and less expensive, by taking advantage of drones equipped with Artificial Intelligence

Tore Lie
Project Manager

World Wide Launch

The Connected Drone launch was not limited to concern only Norwegian and European participants. Representatives from eSmart Systems were also launching Connected Drone in Fargo, USA, at the very same time as in Halden. As in Halden, this was a great success. See the product launch video here:

Revolutionizing Grid Operations

eSmart Systems’ drone project is revolutionary – never before has there been anything like this software available on the market.

What makes the project unique, is that we use such a diversity of new technology, that has to be able to function together in ways it has never done earlier

Lie says

This summer’s launch is just the beginning of eSmart Systems’ drone adventure. For even though the project has now resulted in a product, the research and development of new and better solutions continues.

We have proved we can fly drones. We can fly them far and we can provide and analyze amounts of data that previously would take one person a year – in less than an hour. All because of an Artificial Intelligence we are continuously making smarter; Which in itself is quite sensational

says Lie

With many of the most important actors in Scandinavia present at the launch in Halden, the Project Manager hopes soon to be able to take Connected Drone even further.  

Good to Go

And just as Tore Lie had hoped for, the second phase of the Connected Drone project was approved by the project’s management group no more than 12 hours after the launch of June 1st.

Our team has worked intensively towards the launch and  they have all been amazing. All grid companies have expressed they were greatly impressed. A “thumbs up” for further development of Connected Drone was great and extremely important!

Parts of this article is taken from NCE:Smart Innovation Norway.

ASKO Vestby has chosen eSmart Systems and Connected Building as their solution to gain improved overview of energy production and consumption factors.

ASKO will use these insights to reduce energy costs through power management by better controlling, among other things, effects on joint tariff contracts, ensuring the most use of solar power production in their own plants, and exploiting market price differences.  This will be achieved by collecting real-time values in​​to eSmart Systems’ platform, presenting overviews in dashboards and eventually using big data analytics and optimization for advanced decision support.

Ambitious climate targets

By 2020, ASKO aims to reduce energy consumption of their properties by 20% and to source 100% of its energy requirements from renewables. At the same time, all transport vehicles will run on renewable fuels.

ASKO’s Vestby plant is a giant grocery logistics facility.  Underway is a large-scale placement of roof solar cells, which will be completed in the spring of 2017 making ASKO Vestby Norway’s largest solar power plant.

The agreement between the companies is twofold consisting of a pilot project and a proof-of-concept.

ASKO is a very assertive and innovative company that takes the green shift seriously. It’s through such demanding customers that eSmart Systems verifies and further develops our solutions. We are therefore very pleased to have secured this agreement

Jan Tore Gjøby
Project Manager for eSmart Systems

The project commences in January 2017.