Business & Finance
Business and Finance
Business and Finance
Thu, January 20, 2011 GEa?s Grid IQa" Experience Center Grand Opening Solidifies Atlanta as a Leading Source for Sustainable Energy Innovation
ATLANTA--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Today, GE Energy (NYSE: GE) held the grand opening ceremony for its new Grid IQa" Experience Center, located in the Smart Grid Center of Excellence in Atlanta, Ga. Grid IQa" is GE's company-wide commitment to solving customersa™ toughest challenges in innovative ways with more efficient, reliable and sustainable energy solutions. The state-of-the-art, interactive Experience Center educates utilities, consumers, regulators and policy makers about the global energy landscape and the GE technologies modernizing the electrical grid to empower energy suppliers and consumers. GE and the Center of Excellence have created approximately 200 new jobs in Georgia since 2009.
"Grid IQ Experience Center supports our statea™s economic growth and helps characterize Atlanta as a global leader in the energy sector."
aAs a source for energy education and innovation, the Experience Center will have a positive impact on the city and our state for years to come,a said Governor Nathan Deal. aGrid IQ Experience Center supports our statea™s economic growth and helps characterize Atlanta as a global leader in the energy sector.a
The Grid IQ Experience Center features an iPad-guided tour to help visitors understand smart grid solutions and their potential to change how power is generated, delivered and consumed. Visitors will learn why and how GE technologies empower consumers to make smarter decisions about energy consumption, like charging an electric vehicle during off-peak times. The Experience Center also features in-depth technical demonstrations to help educate utility engineers about GEa™s proven energy solutions for increasing efficiency and reliability.
aGlobal electricity demand is expected to increase 75 percent by 2030*,a said Bob Gilligan, vice presidenta"digital energy for GE Energy Services. aWe must take action to modernize the grid to meet our growing capacity, environmental and security needs. Our new Grid IQ Experience Center will position Atlanta as a leader in driving change through the power of educationa"showcasing how utilities, regulators and consumers can enact measures simultaneously to achieve a greater degree of energy efficiency.a
Along with the Grid IQ Experience Center, the Smart Grid Center of Excellence includes a world-class smart grid innovation laboratory. GEa™s collaboration with the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), one of the nationa™s top research universities, is aiding in developing the laboratory. Through their involvement, Georgia Tech students will be able to develop and test new smart grid technologies to improve the efficiency, reliability and environmental impact of energy delivery and usea"including the integration of more renewable energy sources like wind and solar.
The Smart Grid Center of Excellence was made possible through a public-private partnership consisting of Georgia government, energy industries and academia.
About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) is a diversified infrastructure, finance and media company taking on the worlda™s toughest challenges. From aircraft engines and power generation to financial services, health care solutions and television programming, GE operates in more than 100 countries and employs about 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's website at [ www.ge.com ].
GE serves the energy sector by developing and deploying technology that helps make efficient use of natural resources. With nearly 85,000 global employees and 2009 revenues of $40 billion, GE Energy [ www.ge.com/energy ] is one of the worlda™s leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technologies. The businesses that comprise GE Energya"GE Power & Water, GE Energy Services and GE Oil & Gasa"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.
*Source:International Energy Agency 2010
