PGE to deploy wireless network in grid modernisation bid
In a grid modernisation effort, US utility Portland General Electric (PGE) will be making use of a platform from Expeto Inc. for commercial private wireless network deployment for automated resiliency, smart sensor integration and EV charging infrastructure
The partnership will see PGE make use of the NeXtworking platform from Expeto, which enables enterprise networking over private and public mobile networks, to accelerate grid modernisation and renewable energy outcomes.
The Expeto-enabled PGE private wireless network will support automated grid resiliency, monitoring of field conditions with smart sensors and devices, connected workers for enhanced employee safety and charging stations for Electric Vehicles (EVs) on the public grid.
PGE selected Expeto as a partner to provide next-gen connectivity based on successful deployment in the Connected Utility Lab, which confirmed the viability of PGE’s use cases over one year of extensive testing.
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Expeto’s virtual private network is based on connectivity from tier-one mobile operators. According to the company, their approach provides the scalability needed to support many grid nodes and devices necessary to achieve carbon reduction, resilience and safety goals.
The resulting network will eventually cover 4,000 square miles and connect 250,000 devices using existing cellular networks at one-tenth of the cost of traditional solutions, helping PGE avoid significant capital and operating expenditures related to a self-built private LTE network over the next 20 years.
“However, an enterprise deploys wireless networks for mission critical applications, they want the flexibility and agility to configure and manage it just like their existing IT network and from a multi-tenant, fully containerised platform,” said Expeto VP of product Brian Anderson.
“Expeto is the only software platform that enables an enterprise to deploy and manage mobile connectivity according to mission critical business needs…We are proud to support PGE’s leadership as they accelerate the transition to renewable energy.”
PGE’s mandated decarbonisation targets include an 80% decrease in greenhouse gas emissions associated with serving Oregon retail electricity consumers, compared to its baseline emissions by 2030.
