Energy storage – theme for the May e-tech

 

This month's e-tech features the challenge of energy storage.

The challenge of decentralized energy storage and its consequent redistribution needs to be addressed in a new manner if the smart grid is to become smarter and emerging energy generating technologies taken into account.

 

This edition looks at some of the ways in which energy can be stored in a decentralized manner and redistributed according to need, for example:

 

• Using the flywheel to put a new spin on energy
• Using molten salt as a means to store heat

 

( read article )

Registration open for the IEC Young Professionals Programme

 

To increase awareness of the benefits that come from participating in the development of International Standards and the Conformity Assessment Systems, the IEC has initiated a new programme.

 

Known as the IEC Young Professionals Programme, the scheme aims to involve promising engineers, managers and technicians at the start of their careers in the field of electrotechnology.

 

Registration, through National Committees only, is now open.

 

( read article )

WSC Academic Week 2010

 

The WSC (World Standards Cooperation), established jointly by the IEC, ISO and the ITU is organizing a week of sessions to take place on 5-9 July 2010 at the CICG (International Conference Centre) in Geneva, Switzerland.

 

The week aims to promote exchanges between academic institutions and the international standards community in order to raise awareness about standards and foster present and future cooperation.

 

( read article )

IEC to participate in ConnectivityWeek 2010

 

As part of its focus on and involvement in the development of Smart Grids, the IEC is participating in the fifth annual ConnectivityWeek, a key conference for the application of ICT for energy management and efficiency.

 

The IEC will be represented by Richard Schomberg, Convenor of the SMB’s SG 3 on Smart Grid and Vice President Research for EDF (Electricité de France) in North America.

 

( read article )

A tale of better safety for workers and products

 

Wolfgang Kreinberg is Chairman of the IECEE FIC (Factory Inspection Committee) and Senior Consultant International Affairs, TÜV SÜD Product Service.

 

In this interview he talks about the role of IECEE in ensuring safety and reliability to the working place.

 

( read article )

IECEx certification helps Versa Products Co. to access global markets

 

Versa Products Co. has its world headquarters in the USA and is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of directional control valves, a great number of which are used in hazardous areas.

 

This article is based on interviews with the Vice President – Sales and Marketing, Gerry Gramegna, and the Engineering Manager, Bahram Nazmi.

 

( read article )

Shedding light on the inner life of electronics

 

Electronic components are central to our lives. We may not see them, but we rely on them all the time. Electrical and electronic products comprise many, sometimes hundreds, of individual components and sub-assemblies. Manufacturers and consumers alike want to be assured that the electronic components used in their products are of the required quality and reliability

 

At present there are eight families of electronic components covered by IECQ.

 

( read article )

Storing energy for a rainy day

 

"We will always need portable energy" says Stephen W. Moore, the founding Chairman of Subcommittee 21A Working Group 5: Large format lithium batteries.

 

This article looks at some of the storage technologies such as pumped storage, Lithium-ion batteries and molten salt.

 

( read article )

Putting a new spin on energy

 

Energy generation is becoming increasingly complex with multiple sources of supply and a demand that rarely ceases to fluctuate.

 

Excess power needs to be stored until such time as it is needed. One of the newer technologies being developed is the flywheel.

 

( read article )

The IEC welcomes UAE and Oman as its 80th and 81st Members

 

IEC membership is growing as countries continue to recognize the benefits of standardization.

 

The UAE (United Arab Emirates) and Oman became Full Members in March 2010, making them respectively, the 80th and 81st Members of the IEC.

 

( read article )

Standardization growing in the industrializing world

 

The WTO (World Trade Organization) TBT (Technical Barriers to Trade) Committee met in March for the first time this year at the WTO in Geneva.

 

The IEC's International Liaison Officer, Françoise Rauser, described what the IEC has been doing in developing and industrializing countries over the last half-year.

 

( read article )

DCMAS Network holds its 10th annual meeting at IEC

 

The DCMAS (Developing Countries in Metrology, Accreditation and Standardization) Network is a group of representatives from specialized international organizations promoting and implementing MAS (metrology, standardization and Conformity Assessment) activities in developing countries.

 

The Network has a rotating Secretariat, which for the current period 2010-2011 is held jointly by the IEC and ISO. This year's annual meeting was held on 29 March at the IEC’s Central Office in Geneva, Switzerland.

 

( read article )

International standardization in the Latin American region

 

Recently, the IEC participated in four separate events in the South American Continent.

 

These included a visit to the Argentinean National Committee, a training course at the Chilean National Committee, an Andean Community Event in Peru and the COPANT 2010 Assembly that took place in Mexico City.

 

( read article )

Finnish National Committee celebrates 45th anniversary – Better standards by cooperation

 

The last day in March 2010 was the day chosen to celebrate the 45th anniversary of SESKO, the Finnish Electrotechnical Standards Association, which is the Finnish NC of the IEC.

 

Gabriel Barta, IEC Head of Technical Coordination, was the keynote speaker at the event held under the banner of "Better standards by cooperation" in Helsinki’s Pörssitalo, the historical stock exchange building.

 

( read article )

Joint Australian and New Zealand household safety committee wins regional Committee of the Year Award

 

Each year, Standards New Zealand celebrates the winners of the Standards Council and Standards New Zealand Meritorious Service Awards and honours its committee members for their work over the previous year.

 

Debbie Chin, Standards New Zealand Chief Executive, was pleased to tell e-tech that a new award, the Committee of the Year, had been won by New Zealander Derek Johns who chairs the Joint Australian/New Zealand Committee EL-002.

 

( read article )

Recent changes in the IEC community

 

The IEC community has seen a number of changes in recent weeks:

• New Presidents of National Committees
• A primary member named for SG 1
• Nominations within TCs

 

( read article )

In the Webstore – New edition of Functional Safety with comments

 

An important series of standards dealing with Functional Safety – that part of overall safety that depends on a specific system or equipment operating correctly in response to the input provided – has now been released in an entirely new Standards+ form.

 

For the first time in the history of the IEC Webstore, IEC 61508 is available as a Redline commented version.

 

( read article )

Publications dealing with storage systems

 

A sample list of some of the International Standards on various forms of energy storage that can be obtained from the IEC Webstore.

 

( read article )