Where in the World is the Nextek CEO?
Nextek Power Systems Inc. CEO Paul Savage will speak at the 7th annual Pacific Crest Emerging Technology Summit, scheduled for February 14-15, at the Westin San Francisco. He will be on the panel discussing “Driving Down Energy Cost with Smart Buildings” at 3 p.m. on the 15th.
The summit will consist of two days of discussions surrounding numerous topics, including next generation infrastructure, mobility, global Internet, Software-as-a-Service, Big Data, clean technology and several others. Attendees include top executives from leading public and private technology companies, tech-focused public market investors, private equity firms, venture capitalists, and corporate development executives from top acquirers. Among other topics, Mr. Savage will discuss Nextek’s Direct Current technology, which relies primarily on photovoltaic (solar) energy, and can be deployed in buildings and campuses, offering significant energy savings.
Mr. Savage is a regular participant at events promoting renewable energy around the world. For example, last June he took part in a Roundtable on Clean Energy sponsored by the Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) held in Cambridge, England. REEEP is a non-profit, specialist change agent aiming to catalyze the market for renewable energy and energy efficiency, with a primary focus on emerging markets and developing countries.
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Nextek CEO Helps Make the Case for DC Power
The use of renewable, efficient DC power is rapidly increasing in enterprise locations such as corporate, educational and government campuses, and its future in both commercial and residential applications is bright.
Nextek Power Systems CEO Paul Savage (a founding member of the EMerge Alliance®) was among the presenters in a recent webinar on “Direct DC Power Systems for Efficiency and Renewable Energy Integration.” The event was sponsored by the Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building Technologies Program.
Renewable energy accounted for 14.3 percent of the domestically produced electricity in the United States in the first six months of 2011, according to the US Energy Information Administration’s Electric Power Monthly. Forecasts predict it will grow to more than 20 percent by 2030. Increased residential use could push that figure much higher, and Nextek and the companies it collaborates with are working towards both goals.
Mr. Savage spoke on Nextek’s work to develop standards for the equipment and systems that are emerging for real-world use. To see the slide presentation he offered for the webinar, visit the government’s Energy Efficient Standards web page, and scroll to “Attachments.”
The rationale for greater dependence on DC power is strong. More and more devices, ranging from computers to smart phones to appliances, incorporate semiconductors, which run only on DC power. The increased use of electric vehicles, which can be charged using DC power, adds to that use. The power loss that results from converting AC power from the electrical grid to DC is large, and the production of AC power replies heavily on depleting resources such as oil and coal. However, much DC power can be generated from renewable sources, particularly solar.
For decades, the drawback of DC power has been significant loss over even moderate transmission distances. But with the genesis of microgrid technology—small locations that produce their own power and draw from the grid (or add to it!) only when needed, the advantages of DC become clearer. Add to that advancements in storage technology, and DC power is definitely the wave of the future.
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Nextek’s AC vs. DC Video Nominated for Prestigious AICE Award
And the winner is….
That phrase was repeated 30 times at the Association of Independent Creative Editors awards held recently in New York City. In catagories like “Automotive”, “Comedy”, “Montage” and “Dialogue”, companies including American Express, General Motors, Coke and Adidas competed for the coveted awards. Nextek was nominated in the “Design” catagory and although we didn’t win, it was an honor to be thought of along side AT&T and Hyundai. Click here for a complete list of 2011 AICE Award recepients and view their videos.
The Association of Independent Creative Editors (AICE) is an international association which represents the interests of independent creative editorial companies and their editors.
AICE is dedicated to the advancement and promotion of the creative editor and of the increasingly important role the creative editor plays in the media creation process. For example, more than 85% of all network television commercials edited in the United States and Canada are edited by AICE members.
With chapters in Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, San Francisco and Toronto, AICE represents a significant segment of this vibrant sector and will continue to maintain its strong collective voice in the $5 billion commercial advertising industry.
Rapid advances in editing, graphics and audio technologies have created new tools which significantly broaden and enhance the editor’s capabilities and influence. AICE members have been in the forefront of the technology expansion, researching, testing and adopting the latest tools and technologies to meet new creative challenges and opportunities.
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Big News and Ideas at LIGHTFAIR 2011
The EMerge Alliance, an open industry association leading the rapid adoption of safe direct-current (DC) power distribution standards for commercial buildings, announced at LIGHTFAIR 2011 that 22 additional products have been Registered as compliant with the EMerge Alliance and 16 new members have joined the organization. Nextek is a founding member of the EMerge Alliance and was recently at LIGHTFAIR 2011 for their DC Standard for Occupied Space Informational Session in front of a full house. Click here to view the entire Power Point presentation. Our own Paul Savage and Doug Hamborsky were there to discuss our full line of EMerge Alliance Registered products — 18 products in all!
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Power to the People!
Recently, our own Liang Downey, Director of Digital Domain attended the Power to the People: Distributed Generation and Microgrids Conference in San Francisco California. Conference discussions focused on the innovation and integration of renewable energy generation and smart grid technology changing the way we can produce energy. In this new environment, Distributed Generation & Microgrids can play an unprecedented role in increasing efficiency, replacing non-renewable energy sources and reducing carbon emissions. Panel discussions answered questions about the potential of distributed generation meeting electricity demand; what are the leading technologies driving current and future growth; and what are the key technical, logistical and economic hurdles in accelerating deployment?
Liang was joined on a panel by Carrie McLaughlin of Nordic Windpower, Kevin Passalacqua of Bloom Energy and Ed Sappin of BP Solar. The Panel, Moderated by Matt Lecar of GE Smart Grid was a lively discussion about ”Scaling Down to Size – The Technology Landscape”. Liang’s contribution concentrated on microgrids and the EMerge Alliance innovative approach to using DC power for lighting applications.
The audience was mostly students and faculty of both UC Berkley and Stanford University as well as industry professionals. Greentech Media was there and they covered the conference as well. Click here for their complete story.
Liang with Panel Moderator Matt Lecar
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Paul Savage Talks DC Microgrids at Tedx Detroit 2010
On September 29, 2010 the area’s leading creators, catalysts, entrepreneurs, artists, technologists, designers, scientists, thinkers and doers gathered at The Detroit Institute of Arts to share what they are most passionate about — positive ideas for the world from Detroit. Nextek CEO, Paul Savage, was one of those to speak.
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To Greenbuild We Will Go!
With the tremendous growth of the Greenbuild community, the Greenbuild 2010 Conference occupied the entire McCormick Place West in Chicago, Illinois. As one of the first cities to adopt LEED for public buildings and the city that is home to more LEED-certified buildings than any other, Chicago is truly committed to leadership as a “next-generation” city – the perfect place to celebrate being part of Generation Green. Together, we will define what the future looks like in cities and towns around the world!
Nextek was proud to be at the Greenbuild Conference in the EMerge Alliance booth showing off our new Power Server Module Model 1600 C-2 that was running the DC power to the booth!
Nextek at Greenbuild 2010
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Nextek Participates in Connected Vehicle Trade Association Summit
The Connected Vehicle Trade Association in conjunction with the Michigan Department of Transportation and SAE International hosted The Second International Summit on the State of the Connected Vehicle with a Primary Focus on Policy and Strategy for Deployment. The first day emphasized policy, funding, issues and strategies to accelerate deployments regionally and internationally, and the second day addressed near term business opportunities, vehicle to grid connectivity and insurance telematics.
The Summit brought together senior executives and policy officials from government and industry with responsibility for the deployment and operation of Connected Vehicle programs systems and products. Presenters from Europe, Asia and North America provided perspectives from their respective regions. In addition, major corporate business leaders from automotive companies, the technology supplier community and communication companies discussed the business and partnering opportunities in this rapidly evolving environment. This event will brought together the international public and private sector leadership with responsibility for deployment in the connected vehicle environment.
Paul Savage, Nextek CEO, was a featured speaker at the event and brought his expertise on DC power solutions and vehicle to grid connectivity.
Specific questions the summit was expected to answer include:
- Deployment schedules including costs, product and service introduction schedules and installation projections locations
- International variations on business models for vehicle and roadside deployments
- Regional perspectives of deployment, policy, and business models
- Near term and longer term benefits regarding congestion, safety, environmental issues and economic development
- Wide area connectivity and other networks, and the interface of DSRC to ITS networks
- Highlights of short term business opportunities in the US and internationally.
- New development in Insurance Telematics and data analytics
- Updates on the advances in vehicle to grid connectivity
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Nextek Enters GE’s Ecomagination Challenge
GE’s Ecomagination Challenge is a $200 million call-to-action for businesses, entrepreneurs, innovators, and students to share their best ideas and come together to take on one of the world’s toughest challenges – building the next-generation power grid to meet the needs of the 21st century. Organizations and individuals may enter as many ideas as they wish in the three categories: Renewables, Grid Efficiency and Eco Homes/Eco Buildings between July 13 and September 30, 2010.
VOTE FOR OUR IDEA BY CLICKING BELOW:
Use Power How and Where it is Generated
The idea: Nextek Power Systems has a simple yet ingenious upgrade to conventional power delivery that applies directly to all categories of the GE Challenge. Nextek’s innovative Direct Current microgrid can be deployed incrementally, improving the overall efficiency, sustainability and reliability of the Smart-Grid and the loads it serves.
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Connectivity Week 2010, Santa Clara, California
Connectivity Week is a collection of events that together focus on the application of Information Technology (IT) on the energy challenges facing the world, challenges as illustrated by climate change and the need for sustainability.
Spanning all the major industries and energy consumption areas of commercial, residential, industrial and infrastructure, conference sessions at Connectivity Week explore how IT can be leveraged towards the new energy paradigm facing the world.
Also located at Connectivity Week are a conference and an exposition on key enabling technologies and applications required to make the future energy vision a reality.
Designed for government planners, technology companies, facility developers and owners, consultants and academia – Connectivity Week is an opportunity for stakeholders to network, share “best practices” and develop ideas to solve the world’s energy issues.
Our own Liang Downey was there for the week taking in all of the sights and sounds. According to Liang she often heard “DC power? Yes, I’ve heard of that and it makes sense!” She said it was an incredible opportunity to meet, network and discuss future partnerships. Much is being done in the energy sustainability arena and it’s an exciting time to be involved.
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