Accenture (NYSE:ACN) and Siemens have entered into an agreement to form
a joint venture in the smart grid field that will work with utilities to
improve energy efficiency, grid operations and reliability.
The new company, named Omnetric Group, will provide the energy industry
with advanced solutions and services focused on data management and
systems integration. These solutions will integrate operational
technologies – such as distribution management and real-time grid
operations – with IT systems supporting smart metering, energy
consumption and work and asset management.
“Combining the strengths of Siemens and Accenture will enable Omnetric
Group to deliver the highest level of expertise and execution to a
rapidly evolving global utility market,” said Jan Mrosik, CEO of
Siemens’ Smart Grid Division.
Omnetric Group will bring together Siemens’ products and solutions;
Accenture’s management and technology consulting, systems integration
and managed-services capabilities. The companies’ IT and operational
technology solutions and extensive experience in the energy industry
will help address a range of challenges faced by energy utilities around
the world.
“With an integrated approach incorporating operational and information
technologies, utilities can improve overall grid reliability and bridge
the gap to real-time grid control by integrating and implementing new
and previously isolated grid applications. This includes demand
response, to actively manage consumption; virtual power plants, to
enable new profitable business models; and meter data management, to
enable usage transparency for consumers,” Mrosik said. “We believe that
no company will be able to help manage this integration better than
Omnetric Group, which will draw from the very best industry know-how and
IT experience.”
Jack Azagury, global managing director for Accenture Smart Grid
Services, said, “Utilities are seeking ways to increase capital
effectiveness and reduce their costs of operations while integrating new
technologies such as distributed renewable generation and electric
vehicles into their electricity networks. Doing so requires an
enterprise view of systems and data through the integration of
traditional IT solutions with the operational solutions required to
manage the grid. Omnetric Group will be uniquely positioned to help
utilities realize the benefits of this IT and OT ‘convergence,’ which is
a critical step toward managing an increasingly complex and data-driven
utility.”
Omnetric Group will begin operations pending regulatory approval and
other customary closing conditions. The company will be headquartered in
Munich, operating initially in Europe and the United States. Omnetric
Group plans to employ approximately 100 people in its first year, with
further global expansion planned in the future.
Financial details of the agreement are not being disclosed.
About Siemens
The Siemens Infrastructure & Cities Sector (Munich, Germany), with
approximately 90,000 employees, focuses on sustainable technologies for
metropolitan areas and their infrastructures. Its offering includes
products, systems and solutions for intelligent traffic management,
rail-bound transportation, smart grids, power distribution, energy
efficient buildings, and safety and security. The Sector comprises the
divisions Building Technologies, Low and Medium Voltage, Mobility and
Logistics, Rail Systems and Smart Grid. For more information, visit http://www.siemens.com/infrastructure-cities
About Accenture
Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and
outsourcing company, with approximately 275,000 people serving clients
in more than 120 countries. Combining unparalleled experience,
comprehensive capabilities across all industries and business functions,
and extensive research on the world’s most successful companies,
Accenture collaborates with clients to help them become high-performance
businesses and governments. The company generated net revenues of
US$28.6 billion for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2013. Its home page
is www.accenture.com.
Copyright Business Wire 2013