Cisco 'Connected Grid' Solutions Help Bring Intelligence, Resiliency and Security to the Smart Grid

First Purpose-Built Products Are Key Components in Cisco's End-to-End Smart Grid Strategy

| Source: Cisco Cisco

SAN JOSE, CA--(Marketwire - May 25, 2010) -  Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) today announced the first offerings in its new Connected Grid portfolio of smart grid communications solutions that will help utilities more reliably and efficiently deliver electric power from generation facilities to businesses and homes, resulting in better energy management, as well as economic and environmental benefits. The purpose-built, ruggedized routers and switches form a resilient, manageable and highly secure network solution for the substation to integrate Internet Protocol (IP)-based communications with the power grid for intelligent grid monitoring and control. These technologies build on existing Cisco® Smart Grid offerings and represent the latest in the company's efforts to deliver end-to-end solutions that help utility customers address grid reliability, industry compliance and operational expenses.

Facts / Highlights:

  • The Cisco 2010 Connected Grid Router (CGR 2010) and Cisco 2520 Connected Grid Switch (CGS 2520) are purpose-built for the most demanding utility substation environments.  
  • They are designed specifically for the Smart Grid communications infrastructure and are the first in Cisco's new Connected Grid portfolio, a family of products that will deliver highly secure, end-to-end and standards-based communications solutions for the smart grid from generation facilities to businesses and homes.
  • Together, the Cisco CGR 2010 and Cisco CGS 2520 form a secure communications infrastructure to capture and analyze information in near-real-time from multiple intelligent electronic devices in the substation. This helps utility operators better manage and maintain power transmission and distribution equipment, as well as increase the reliability of power delivery by quickly identifying, isolating, diagnosing and, at times, automatically repairing faults. This will also help utilities better integrate renewable energy into the grid.
  • The Cisco solution also extends network-based security and management policies to substations, supporting remote engineering access and proactive maintenance programs.
  • The products are based on Cisco IOS® Software, an operating system that delivers high reliability and resiliency as well as multiple network services including support for supervisory control and data acquisition, or SCADA, protocols. 
  • Cisco IOS Software consolidates network security, quality of service and network segmentation on a common communications platform, delivering mission-critical reliability and reducing operational expenses.
  • Cisco's Connected Grid products represent the latest in Cisco's energy management offerings, which include Cisco EnergyWise and the Network Building Mediator.

Security and Industry Compliance:

  • The Cisco 2000 Series Connected Grid Routers and Cisco 2500 Series Connected Grid Switches offer a comprehensive cyber security solution.
  • The products include a rich set of network security features to help utilities comply with North American Electric Reliability Corp. / Critical Infrastructure Protection (NERC/CIP) standards including: the Cisco Intrusion Prevention System, Cisco Network Access Control, Multiprotocol Label Switching, virtual private networks, firewalls, user/device identity and access control capability, all of which provide unparalleled protection and reliability to the grid. 
  • Cisco also supports a complete portfolio of IP-based physical security solutions, such as physical access control to premise and video surveillance, ideal for NERC/CIP compliance.
  • The products meet or exceed IEEE 1613 and IEC61850-3 standards for utility substation environments, including the ability to withstand a broad range of temperatures, as well as extended protection against electrical surges and electromagnetic interference (EMI).

Smart Grid Impact:

  • The expansion of a global "smart grid" will bring substantial environmental benefits. According to the Smart 2020 Report by the Climate Group, implementation of smart grid technologies could globally reduce CO2e emissions by 2.03 gigatons. A recent report by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory predicts a 12 percent reduction in global energy and CO2 emissions if smart grid technologies are deployed.
  • The economic impact of a smart grid is estimated to be significant as well. The GridWise Alliance, of which Cisco is a member, estimates that smart grid incentives and investments will generate approximately 280,000 direct jobs across various categories. 

Cisco and Customer Comments:
Laura Ipsen, senior vice president and general manager, Cisco Smart Grid
"Cisco's vision is to help utilities transform energy production, distribution and consumption using an end-to-end, IP-based communications infrastructure to more sustainably meet the world's future energy needs. Our Connected Grid portfolio represents the foundation of this innovative energy platform that will improve the electrical grid's efficiency and create exciting opportunities for utilities as well as new consumer energy services. With our substation automation solutions at the core, we look forward to helping utilities achieve their business and operational goals."

Lee Krevat, director of smart grid, San Diego Gas & Electric
"Building out the Smart Grid will require innovation, partnership and investment. We are pleased to be working with companies like Cisco to test and evaluate new technologies that will more efficiently and reliably deliver energy to our customers. With solutions like Cisco's, the Smart Grid and all of its benefits will become a reality."

Paola Petroni, vice president, infrastructure and networks division, Enel Group
"Enel has a forward-looking vision for how to develop a Smart Grid for the 21st century that brings environmental and economic opportunity. We are pleased to be working with companies like Cisco to more efficiently and reliably deliver energy to our millions of customers."

Henning Probst, chief executive officer, E.ON Westfalen Weser
"E.ON Westfalen Weser has begun testing Cisco's new substation automation products and believes that they could be a useful component in our Smart Grid architecture. We look forward to further working with Cisco to implement innovative solutions that help us deliver energy to our customers in a more secure, reliable and environmentally-friendly manner." 

Mahvash Yazdi, senior vice president for information technology and business integration and CIO, Southern California Edison
"Building out the Smart Grid will require innovation, partnership and investment. We are pleased to be working with companies like Cisco to more efficiently and reliably deliver energy to our customers. Solutions like those found in Cisco's Connected Grid portfolio will be an important part of the ecosystem needed to bring the Smart Grid and all of its benefits from vision to reality."

Supporting Quotes:
Andy Roehr, Vice President, Capgemini Smart Energy Services
"Capgemini's Smart Energy Services supports utilities and their customers by delivering sustainable energy efficiency and environmental solutions, and transforming utility operations and customer fulfillment. Cisco's new offer for Substation Automation is a critical element of the 'Digital Grid.' Cisco has, with these products, leveraged their proven and highly reliable solutions and met the challenge of operating in the often hostile environment of the substation with their attention to details like operating in a wide range of temperatures, removal of fans, etc. Combined with their track record for security, this represents a winning platform for Cisco and our clients." 

David M. Rouls, managing director, Accenture Smart Grid Services
"Accenture and Cisco have a shared Smart Grid vision. We believe that the inherent value in moving toward a Smart Grid is derived from securely transporting, integrating and analyzing the vast amount of information that results in the transformation from analog to digital. Accenture is particularly excited to enable the data management, event processing, and analytics functionality delivered with the Accenture Intelligent Network Data Enterprise (INDE) and leverage the advanced networking capabilities of the Cisco CGR 2010 for our utility clients." 

Molly Webb, director of strategic engagement, The Climate Group
"Applying ICT solutions to the generation, delivery and consumption of energy could have economic and environmental benefits for decades to come. Implementation of Smart Grid solutions such as transmission and distribution automation, combined with the behavioral changes they would enable, has the potential to significantly reduce CO2 emissions on a global scale."

Supporting Resources:

Tags / Keywords:
Cisco, Smart Grid, Sustainability, Environment, Connected Energy Management, Substation Automation, Utilities

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Press Contact:
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Cisco
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Cisco 2000 Series Connected Grid Router Cisco 2500 Series Connected Grid Switch Cisco Connected Grid substation automation solution

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