Continue reading »]]> Afin de lutter contre les émissions de gaz à effet de serre et de contrôler l’augmentation inéluctable des prix de l’énergie (due à la hausse des prix des énergies fossiles), les Etats-Unis ont entamé un vaste programme de modernisation de leurs réseaux électriques. Pour ce faire, le département de l’énergie américain (DOE), notamment par l’intermédiaire de l’American Recovery and Reinvestment Act voté en 2009, a subventionné bon nombre de programmes en faveur de l’intégration des énergies renouvelables et du déploiement des compteurs intelligents. Compte tenu de la connaissance approfondie et quasi temps réel de la consommation des résidentiels et des industriels, il est possible d’effectuer une gestion plus pertinente de la demande pour le système.

Pour répondre aux enjeux de la production décentralisée et de la flexibilité de la demande, les agrégateurs sont nés : capables de centraliser les informations diffuses des différents groupes de production et de consommation pour ensuite la restituer au système électrique afin d’en améliorer son fonctionnement, leur rôle est appelé à devenir fondamental.

Lire la suite dans les Bulletins Electroniques.

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Vous trouverez la version en français de cet article dans les Bulletins Electroniques.

It is difficult to deny the complexity of our modern society: globalization, continued growth of a population whose intrinsic needs are constantly increasing, and overall improvement in the standards of  living and education. In this evolutionary paradigm, social organizations (institutions, communities, businesses) are now forced to rely on innovative data analysis methods to stay responsive, adaptive, strong and accurate in carrying out their assigned tasks. The amount of data produced and processed by these actors has continuously increased. Even if this isn’t new information, the proliferation of interconnected devices and internet access to each and every moment makes the analysis of this heterogeneous information very complex. Thus, a company must be able to react quickly to shifting market needs, its deceptive signals and its evolution as well as its crises. The billions of data transmitted by consumers are a great source of information used to better target customer segments and industry trends (eg, being able to differentiate a buzz from a real market trend in the immediate future), but also to monitor the evolution of its competitors. In another context, governments are now heavily sollicited to provide quality information to the greatest number, all the while leveraging the services made ​​possible by the advent of “Information and Communication Technologies” (ICT) : welcome to the era of Big Data !

Definition

BigData.The expression was undoubtedly the slogan of 2011-2012 and will be the one of 2013 in the Silicon Valley. It was introduced by the research firm Gartner in 2008. It refers to the unprecedented increase in the volume of data exchanged in our societies, the heterogeneity of their nature and source. In this context, the capture, storage, retrieval, sharing, analysis and visualization of data should be reconsidered. Thus, since the explosion of telecommunications in the late 1990s, the amount of continuously exchanged information has never ceased to grow, exceeding all expectations. The massive development of the web (two billion Internet users worldwide in 2012) helped. The more recent advent of the “Internet of things” will greatly accentuate this trend (devices connected to telecommunication networks such as smartphones, computers, tablets, sensors of all kinds) Today, the merger of telecommunication networks with physical energy networks (electricity in particular) called “smart grids” opens the door to many applications: development of electric vehicles, connected electric appliances capable of demand response, renewable energy integration, interface and customer service, usage analysis, etc.

What challenges ?

The challenges of Big Data can be summarized in four V’s : Volume, Variety, Velocity and Visualization. 

1.Volume: The challenge is daunting because the trend of “more and more data” has increased sharply due to the free fall in the cost of generic storage over the past several years, coupled with the tremendous boom in information technology and communication. Thus, Facebook hosts 40 billion photos while Walmart handles more than one million customer transactions per hour, in the United States,  feeding databases estimated at more than 2.5 petabytes (250). By 2013 the annual amount of data transferred over the web is expected to reach 667 exabytes (260).  But where does Big Data start ? Opinions differ. According to Mike Driscoll, CEO of Metamarkets,”if your data fits into an Excel spreadsheet, you have Small Data. If a MySQL database is sufficient, it is called Medium Data. However, if your data is spread over several servers or multiple machines, you’re there : the issues to be addressed fall within Big Data “! However, Cisco raises a major problem: the volume of data exchanged increases much faster than the capacity of the network that transmits them.

 New online data storage solutions are starting to emerge. Companies like Amazon, AT & T, IBM, Google, Yahoo or AppNexus multiply Cloud Computing offers and relieve companies with capacity while offering them a range of associated services. Pike Research expects the revenue growth of cloud computing to continue at a rate of about 30% per year, with an increase in market value of 46 billion in 2009 to 210 billion by 2015.

2. Variety: With more and more numerous data sources (Internet, connected devices, sensors, etc.), there is a strong heterogeneity in the data collected. The need to structure information is essential.

3. Velocity:The obligation to make prompt and appropriate decisions is a key to success (and economic survival!). The support tools based on the exploitation of data must be the most efficient and effective as possible.

4. Visualization: If the amount of input information available is enormous, the result of its output processing must be clear and concise otherwise it may not be used.

Two complementary challenges have appeal to the accessibility and availability of information. The data are often scattered in silos and they may be difficult to gather to have a clear, reliable and centralized vision. As good as the analysis algorithms are, a quantitative or qualitative deficiency of data can lead to incorrect or incomplete results.

What added value?

Organizations of all kinds have become aware of the value of the data they have, and how their use can differentiate them, enabling them to improve their knowledge or improve their structural efficiency. Through more and more sophisticated analysis tools, the central idea is the processing of billions of data to find relevant information that would then allow making the right decision. For example, the data generated by a consumer is a valuable marketing source for services which can then be customized in their advertising.

The reason for analyzing this data is not confined to the business world, where the focus on performance, competitiveness and market rank is the main driver. The data collected by government agencies is also at the heart of the phenomenon. In order to have transparency for its citizens, governments are encouraged to provide them with the information they hold. State agencies are very interested in this sharing, which stimulates at the same time creativity and innovation. Citizens and businesses can use the available data to create new services (mobile, web applications).

Some examples:

- The digitalization of medicine could eventually help doctors diagnose and treat patients while optimizing costs.

- Institutional and public data are increasingly used to improve the functional efficiency of cities: Cisco announced in early December its association with the Startup Streetline to address the management of parking in San Francisco in real time.

- Regarding industrialists, General Electric announced in early December over a billion medium-term investments in order to provide Big Data solutions to its customers.

- Imagine the amount of data needed for the construction of an Airbus A380 or a gas turbine power plant.

- Service-oriented thinking is a blossoming paradigm of information technology, in conjunction with many other disciplines such as operations, accounting and finance [1]

What market ?

Information is a strategic challenge of the first order, the collection and processing of data are subject to more investment. Market management and data analysis is currently estimated at more than $100 billion and growing at nearly 10% per year, or about twice as fast as the global software market. According to Gartner Research [2], Big Data will be responsible for creating 4.4 million jobs in the ICT industry worldwide by 2015, and over 1.9 million in the United States . The theme is often cited as a priority by investors in Silicon Valley. [3] This economic potential is born from an unprecedented race towards the most innovative and effective management algorithms : crucibles of innovation and knowledge (including mathematics and computer science), the California universities like UC Berkeley and Stanford address these challenges. In terms of data ownership and investment potential – particularly in research, majors such as Amazon, Google and Facebook are logically the main actors of Big Data. In parallel, startups flourish by offering software, platforms and services for data management surfing this philosophy such as Platfora, Continuuity or Metamarkets  all based in the Silicon Valley.

Cloud Computing

Cloud computing  and Big Data are two inseparable elements. Today, IBM, Google, Yahoo or AppNexus all offer cloud computing services. The NIST(National Institute of Standards and Technology) defines cloud computing as a model allowing practical network access and on demand access to a family of computer resources shared by all (eg, servers, networks, storage, applications etc..) that can be rapidly mobilized and released using minimal management effort or interaction with the service provider. Cloud computing enables, among others, the development of management models and optimization, distribution services, (such as “Pay-as-you-go”),storage solutions and dynamic offerings. The availability of the resources is very elastic, since the available computing power and storage space is theoretically infinite. No Cloud without transit data, no Big Data without Cloud computing !

Conclusion

Even though Big Data is often presented as a powerful tool, several slip ups have citizens and public authorities concerned : difficulty in managing privacy of personal information, issues of financial and strategic data security.  Cybersecurity issues accompany the development of the concept: the public, academic and industrial debates are multiplied. Pike Research  for example predicts that the computer security market estimated at $ 370 million in 2012 will reach 610 million by 2020. These challenges aside, the potential offered by the availability and accessibility of this wealth of data – at a time when the world is going digital at a high speed – remains a tremendous asset to the modern world.

On November 19th and 20th 2013, the French Consulate and EDF (Electricite de France) will organize the California France Forum on Energy Efficiency Technologies (CaFFEET). It will take place in Silicon Valley and will address the following question: “How Can Big Data Boost Society’s Resilience?”

More info http://caffeet.org/

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- [1] H. Demirkan, R.J. Kauffman, J.A. Vayghan, H.-G. Fill, D. Karagiannis, P.P. Maglio (2008). Service-oriented technology and management: perspectives on research and practice for the coming decade, The Electronic Commerce Research and Applications Journal 7 [4] 356-376.
- [2] C. Pettey (21-25/10/2012). Gartner Forecasts Global Business Intelligence Market to Grow 9.7 Percent in 2011, Gartner Research, Gartner Symposium/ITxpo 2012, Orlando.
- [3] Intervention de Vinod Khosla, “Money Matters !”, AIMS Stanford, 11 Novembre 2012

___

For more info :

- Le site web de Platfora : http://www.platfora.com/
- Le site web de Continuuity : http://www.continuuity.com/
- Le site web de Metamarkets : http://metamarkets.com/
- Le site web de Streetline : http://www.streetline.com/

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Stanford Graduate School of Business and École Polytechnique will offer a certificate program in innovation and entrepreneurship in Paris this fall. Please join the information session in Paris or London to learn more about the Stanford Ignite – Polytechnique program: Monday, 13 May from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. La Maison des Polytechniciens 12, rue de Poitiers 75007 Paris Friday, 17 May from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. Central London, location to be confirmed RSVP through the Stanford Ignite – Polytechnique website. Faculty Director, Yossi Feinberg, will provide an overview of the program and answer questions.  This event will be casual and is open to anyone who is interested in the program. Stanford Ignite – Polytechnique, modeled after the same program taught on Stanford’s campus in Silicon Valley, will teach participants how to formulate, evaluate, develop and commercialize their ideas. The program is designed for high-potential technical professionals and currently enrolled Master’s, PhD, medical or postdoctoral students in non-business fields.  This part-time program will be held in central Paris over five weekends from 19 September to 17 November. Applications are now being accepted. We hope to see you at one of the information sessions! For more information, please visit http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/ignite/paris or email Sandy Yujuico at ayujuico@stanford.edu.

]]> http://sf.france-science.org/2013/05/08/stanford-ignite-polytechniqueinformation-session-in-paris-may-13-or-london-may-17/feed/ 0 http://sf.france-science.org/2013/05/05/french-american-newsletter-60-may-6th-2013/ http://sf.france-science.org/2013/05/05/french-american-newsletter-60-may-6th-2013/#comments Mon, 06 May 2013 06:36:48 +0000 Veronique Mini http://sf.france-science.org/?p=9190

Continue reading »]]> What’s happening this week in the cleantech sector in Europe and the USA?

Bienvenue dans notre nouvelle newsletter des technologies propres. Cette semaine, l’histoire se répète: à Washington un groupe de républicains continue de demander des comptes sur le programme de prêts garantis. L’hydrogène lui fait son come-back: Le DoE lance une compétition pour les stations de recharge en hydrogène, la H-Prize. Et cette semaine la plus grande centrale solaire à voir sa construction débuter est à Antelope Valley. Pour le reste l’actualité est très riche sur les Smart Grids et le Big Data. Bonne lecture!

Welcome to our latest newsletter on clean technologies. This week Europe is urged to prepare a strategy to adapt to climate change, and that despite the fact that renewable energies are increasing fast, and that new car emissions are falling. At the energy efficiency level, Europe is looking at the US to learn the best practices on Smart Grid technologies, even though 1.8 billion euros have already been invested. On the French side, Venturi can claim to have the fastest electric vehicle ever with the “Jamais Contente!”. Enjoy!

BUSINESS & POLICY

CLEAN POWER

SMART GRID

URBAN EFFICIENCY

CLEAN TRANSPORT

DATA ANALYTICS

Les émissions de CO2 aux USA resteront stables si l’on s’en tient  aux régulations actuelles. Mais est-ce suffisant? Une histoire sans fin? Un groupe de républicains demande des comptes au DoE sur les cafouillages du programme de prêts garantis. Que les nouvelles soient bonnes ou mauvaises: L’action de Tesla continue de grimper	13% increase for European renewable energy in 2011 European new car emissions fall nine per cent in three years Report: EU urged to develop climate adaptation strategy CO2 emission : towards the goal of 95g by 2020

Antelope Valley Solar Projects : MidAmerican Solar et Sun Power débutent la construction de la plus grande centrale solaire au monde SiNode Systems, spin-off de la Northwestern University, améliore l’efficacité de ses batteries Lithium-ion grâce au graphène Le MIT annonce une rupture technologique du solaire photovoltaïque grâce à la fission d’excitons singulets Amonix Inc. bat un nouveau record d’efficacité dans le solaire à concentration : le NREL confirme

Would you like some storage in your storage? German researchers on resistive memory cells Floating wind turbines in Scotland get £15 millions GE tests high-efficiency wind turbine in the Netherlands Extremadur : the 250 MW unsubsidized solar PV power plant in Western Spain

Green Tech Media présente le classement des utilities américaines les plus “matures” sur la thématique Smart Grid Sept exemples de projets Smart Grid aux US ComEd est satisfait de son programme de Distribution Automation et prévoit d’y consacrer 12m$ supplémentaires en 2013 Le DoE évalue à 7md$ les retombées économiques des 3md$ investis dans les Smart Grids	Europe watches the US for smart grid lessons €1.8 billion invested in smart grids in Europe Smart grid project in Europe : lessons learned and current developments In France ERDF and GDF work on coordinating their projects on smart meters Germany is creating a site to build a supraconductor power cable

IBM sort la box MessageSight pour traiter le flux croissant de données de l’internet des objets Le projet MoboSens lance un capteur lié à une applicaton Iphone pour mesurer la qualité de l’eau Optimisation énergétique des bâtiments américains : 40 milliards de dollars d’économies en 2020 ? La pollution engendrée par le trafic routier voyage plus loin que prévue : l’exemple de Los Angeles Grâce au rachat de Zamboo en 2010, l’opérateur AT&T se lance lui-aussi dans l’internet des objets

The European Parliament against a proposal to increase prices for carbon permits under the ETS Germany looks to Israel for advanced water technologies Very tiny small minimal program for batteries In Germany starting on May 1st Google uses Finnish data center as springboard for startup outreach 3D cities, to help communities better manage their energy The Louxor movie theater in Paris is the first in the city to use geothermal

Lancement d’un incubateur pour startups dans le domaine des batteries : CalCEF et LBNL y croient ! Le DoE lance la compétition H-Prize pour une station de recharge en hydrogène. A123 renait de ses cendres sous forme d’un incubateur: A123 Venture Technologies	Record for the Venturi VBB-3 Jamais Contente : 600km/hour ! « Trolleybus Optimisation Système Alimentation » (TOSA) : the ultra-fast charging EV bus will be tested in Geneva Forum BMW and Siemens in partnership for a “ehigway” between Leipzig and Munich Biofuels 2nd generation : the Syndièse’s project takes another step Opening of a German-Australian research center for micro-algae

Le Smart Energy Profile (SEP) 2.0 incluant les standards Zigbee, Wifi et HomePlug a été validé par la Zigbee Alliance Whirlpool commercialise des équipements ménagers connectés au réseau wifi Pour faciliter l’audit des donnees d’éfficacité énergetique, EnergySavvy lance Optix ! Les utilities doivent se préparer à tout type de cyber-attaque La cybersécurité ne doit pas être négligée pour les microgrids	Data shortfall clouds EU buildings efficiency assessment How Google lost the trust of Europe’s data protection authorities Open data : a golden mine for social economy

Continue reading »]]> The first seed grant opportunity aims to support faculty in establishing new relationships with researchers outside of the United States in order to broaden and deepen the scope of international research at Stanford. 6-8 awards of up to $15,000 each will be distributed to Stanford faculty to support their travel to a non-U.S. location for the purpose of establishing a new international research collaboration or to support a Stanford graduate student who will travel to a non-U.S. location for the purpose of facilitating a new international research collaboration on behalf of a faculty member.

More information:
https://oia.stanford.edu/stories/international-funding-opportunities-faculty

The second opportunity is a special partnership between our Office of International Affairs (OIA), in cooperation with the Vice Provost for Online Learning (VPOL). We invites proposals from faculty to develop innovative online and blended courses in collaboration with non-Stanford faculty in an overseas location. Two awards of up to $65,000 each will be distributed.

More information:
https://oia.stanford.edu/stories/international-funding-opportunities-faculty

 Applications are due by 4 PM May 17, 2013