UK Energy Minister Opens Europe's First Smart Grid Center at GE Energy's UK Headquarters

Online, December 2, 2009 (Newswire.com) - Lord Hunt "encouraged by proven technology solutions to power UK with cleaner energy"

BRACKNELL, UK - December 2, 2009 - In his remarks at the event, Lord Hunt cited "the need for a concerted effort to build a smarter electricity grid will result in new employment opportunities across the UK" and called on utilities, technology companies and consumers "to work together with government for a smarter energy future."

The technologies that will improve energy efficiency for consumers across the UK will be showcased at GE's new Smart Grid Centre, the first of its kind in Europe. The centre offers visitors the first-ever "turbine to toaster" view of the smart grid, showing utilities, government and consumers the many dramatic energy-management and carbon footprint-reducing advances available today.

"With increasing global demand for energy and on the eve of the Copenhagen climate change talks, now is the time to re-think how we deliver smarter, cleaner and more efficient electricity," said Magued ElDaief, GE's UK Managing Director. "In addition to participating in the global dialogue to plan a better energy future, GE has been building and testing real-world solutions that are ready to deploy today."

At the event, the Government announced the publication of a Smart Grid policy document and the results of a "2050 Vision document" drafted by the Energy Networks Strategy Group.

"The UK Government's goal of installing smart meters in every home by 2020 is a valuable step towards smarter energy usage," said ElDaief. "In the UK, GE already manages grid intelligence for 13 of the 14 Distribution Network Operators. Our solutions at the Smart Grid Centre show how we can further maximize performance from power plants to neighborhood distribution and ultimately consumer usage in the home, the school and the workplace.

"We invite utilities, scientists, government officials and engineers to visit our Smart Grid Centre and work together towards a cleaner, smarter, more efficient energy future," concluded ElDaief.

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For Editors:
Building the smart grid is widely accepted as crucial to meeting the UK's energy challenges and reducing our power system's carbon footprint. GE's smart grid technologies range from Internet-like grid automation and control and computerized outage isolation/repair to streamlined renewable energy integration that makes distributed wind and solar power practical. GE's smart meters and communications platforms give consumers valuable tools to understand and manage their energy use, empowering them make informed decisions that can control costs.
By demonstrating technology solutions in a smart grid context, the Centre reveals how advances can work together to improve the reliability and efficiency across the energy system. GE Smart Grid Centre visitors will experience the vision of GE and collaborating companies for a new way of thinking about energy. They will also learn that many of the technology advances that can have huge reliability, efficiency and environmental impacts are ready to install and begin saving today.

About GE
GE is a diversified global infrastructure, finance and media company that's built to meet essential world needs. From energy, water, transportation and health to access to money and information, GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide.

About GE Energy
GE serves the energy sector by developing and deploying technology that helps make efficient use of natural resources. With 60,000 global employees and 2008 revenues of $38.6 billion, GE Energy www.ge.com/energy is one of the world's leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technologies. The businesses that comprise GE Energy - GE Power & Water, GE Energy Services and GE Oil & Gas - work together to provide integrated product and service solutions in all areas of the energy industry including coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy; renewable resources such as water, wind, solar and biogas; and other alternative fuels.

For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.ge.com GE is imagination at work.

For more information contact:

GE Energy
Frank Farnel
T: +33 3 84 59 11 16
Email: [email protected]

Neil Gazeley
T: +44 (0)1223 449395
Email:[email protected]

Hopscotch Europe In One
Nicole Jung
T: +44 208 133 3140
Email: [email protected]