Wireless Smart Grid Technology Tested by Google and Spectrum Bridge

America's first wireless Smart Grid network has been deployed in Plumas-Sierra county, California, using TV White Space spectrum as a means to deliver connectivity.

Using Google's PowerMeter technology, service provider Spectrum Bridge has joined forces with Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative and Telecommunications (PSREC) to test the new network's capabilities in delivering real-time broadband connectivity and data flow for smart grid management.

What is TV White Space?

Awhile back, all television channels switched over from analog to digital format. In doing so "white spaces" were created between all established channels on the digital spectrum. These spaces were left unused -- until now -- and carried a lot of potential for high-speed broadband networking.

Not to worry, though, since these white spaces are between established channels, they will not interfere with your Lost re-runs.

This past February, the FCC tested the newly anointed white spaces to make sure that their use didn't interfere with established telecommunications

The FCC declared white spaces were ideal for wireless network services and deemed them acceptable for delivering broadband connectivity to consumers, businesses, and government.

Importance?

Well, in the spirit of efficiency, this is pretty cool, especially for areas not normally covered by wireless providers. White space technology could potentially bring wireless broadband anywhere.

As for smart grids, the potential is the same.

Efficient, responsive data transfer and power-flow management can now be implemented -- using Google's PowerGrid (Nasdaq:GOOG) of course -- into almost any accepting infrastructure. In other words, they may have infinitely increased the smart grid's boundaries.

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