IBM is partnering with India’s The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) to create the country’s first smart grid project, by which they will create a cost benefit analysis for smart grid activities as part of the National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE).

The NMEEE is one of eight national missions promoting innovative policy and regulatory regimes, financing mechanisms and business models that help sustain the market for energy efficiency.

In this project, IBM plans to apply its services expertise to help determine smart grid readiness in India, laying out a strategic assessment framework with an Indian perspective that looks at the adoption of new smart

grid technologies, and identifies alignments in policy and regulatory frameworks to make each solution possible.

IBM will generate the smart grid business case and tools that will help calculate the return on investment for all smart grid projects being rolled out country-wide and also within the ISGAN (International Smart Grid Action Network), of which BEE is a member.

The ISGAN network facilitates cooperation in smart grid policy and standardizes, regulates and finances technology research development and demonstration, workforce skills and knowledge development, including consumer participation at all levels. ISGAN participants include Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, European

Commission, France, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Sweden, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.

"Through this collaboration with BEE, our aim is to help overcome inefficiencies in the existing grid and move
toward more sustainable energy networks. IBM is involved in more than 150 Smart Grid engagements in mature and emerging markets," said Avinash V. Joshi, director, communications sector, IBM India/South Asia.