May 20th, 2012 
Solar energy at home 
San Jose, CA (PRWEB) February 21, 2012
The SunSpec Alliance, an industry coalition for establishing open IT standards for solar PV components and the systems they interact with, today announced the winners of the first annual SunSpec awards. Global leaders Silver Spring Networks (U.S.), Solar Frontier (Japan), SolarBridge Technologies (U.S.), SolarEdge Technologies (Israel), and the City of Boston (U.S.) were each singled out for their unique contributions to the solar industry.
Silver Spring Networks: McCulloch-Pitts Award
The highest SunSpec honor, the McCulloch-Pitts award, was given to Silver Spring Networks (http://www.silverspringnet.com) in recognition of its significant contributions toward the integration of residential solar PV and the Smart Grid. Tom Herbst of Silver Spring Networks and John Nunneley, executive director and chief technology officer of the SunSpec Alliance, have worked diligently for more than two years to harmonize Smart Energy Profile 2.0a key technology of the Smart Gridwith SunSpec specifications. As a result of this effort, consumers and utilities will soon be given visibility into both energy demand and generation in the home from a single source, enabling seamless integration of solar power generation and ensuring stable and functional smart electric grids.
“We want to thank Silver Spring Networks for its leadership in driving the integration of residential PV power plants and the smart grid. The technology that has resulted from the collaboration of Silver Spring Networks and the SunSpec Alliance is fundamental to helping utilities around the world overcome the challenge of maintaining stable power grids while honoring the right of individuals to operate solar PV power plants on their homes,” said Tom Tansy, Chairman of the SunSpec Alliance.
About the McCulloch-Pitts Award: In the 1940′s, the team of McCulloch and Pitts performed groundbreaking research in the areas of neural networking and artificial intelligence. One result of their work, known as the “McCulloch-Pitts Neuron” (http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_neuron) is a fundamental building block of modern computing that informs how we conceptualize “thinking” systems. Accordingly, the McCulloch-Pitts Award is given by the SunSpec Alliance to recognize individuals and companies who contribute to the integration of renewable energy and the smart grid.
Solar Frontier: General Excellence
Solar Frontier (http://www.solar-frontier.com) was given the SunSpec General Excellence Award. This award is conferred on the SunSpec Alliance member that best demonstrates the values of the SunSpec Alliance, including open standards leadership, technical innovation, business leadership, global partnership, and humanitarian values. Solar Frontier was singled out for its many business and technical achievements during the year, and for its contributions to helping rebuild Japan in the aftermath of the Tsunami that struck the country on March 11, 2011. The leadership shown by Solar Frontier provides inspiration to others that will make solar PV the preferred energy source of the 21st century.
SolarBridge Technologies: Bridge Builder Award
The first SunSpec Bridge Builder award was given to the aptly-named SolarBridge Technologies (http://www.solarbridgetech.com). SolarBridge was chosen for their role in creating the partnership between SunSpec and the UPVI Alliance. SolarBridge recognized the synergy of the UPVI Alliance, a developer of mechanical standards for PV module electronics integration, and the SunSpec Alliance, and worked diligently to forge a partnership between the two organizations. This effort is an example of standards development at its best, where entities focused on distinct-yet-complimentary technologies find creative ways to cooperate rather than compete. As a result, SunSpec and UPVI can each focus on its core competencies and create even more impactful results for the global PV industry.
SolarEdge Technologies: Open Standards Champion (Supplier)
SolarEdge Technologies was selected for the SunSpec Open Standards Champion award in the Supplier category. This award recognizes the PV component manufacturer or solution provider that best demonstrates the concept of backing up words with action. SolarEdge was singled out for its outstanding contributions to standards development (SolarEdge was a key contributor to SunSpec standards for inverter monitoring, inverter control, and module-level management), its vocal promotion of PV standards as a mechanism for driving inefficiency from the PV supply chain, and for deploying standards-compliant products in solar plants around the world.
City of Boston, Massachusetts: Open Standards Champion (Customer)
The City of Boston was selected for the SunSpec Open Standards Champion award in the Customer category. This award was established to recognize the PV power plant owner or purchase influencer that best shows the PV industry the value of standards in action. The City of Boston was singled out for making the business case for solar PV information standards in a municipal setting and for leading the effort to define procurement standards that encourage the adoption of standards-based PV solutions.
About SunSpec Alliance
The SunSpec Alliance is a federation of solar PV industry participants, together pursuing information standards for the renewable energy industry. SunSpec standards address most major sub-systems and operational aspects of PV power plants on the smart gridincluding residential, commercial, and utility-scale systemsthus reducing cost, promoting technology innovation, and accelerating industry growth. Over 50 organizations are members of the SunSpec Alliance, including global leaders from Asia, Europe, and North America. Membership is open to corporations, non-profits, and individuals. For more information about the SunSpec Alliance, or to download SunSpec specifications at no charge, please visit http://www.sunspec.org.
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