The collaboration brings together Itron’s energy management solutions and Microsoft’s cloud solutions to transform how end users view and manage their energy, and how utilities cope with the demands of a quickly changing industry

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Microsoft to help Itron accelerate cloud adoption and the next generation of consumer and grid edge solutions. (Credit: efes from Pixabay)

Itron said that it is extending its collaboration with Microsoft to expedite cloud adoption and the next generation of consumer and grid edge solutions for smart cities and utility industries.

The expanded partnership brings together Itron’s energy management solutions and the cloud solutions of Microsoft. The combination is said to help redefine how end users view and manage their energy, and how utilities cope with the demands of a quickly evolving industry.

Itron is said to be working with the tech major to build solutions that offer insights and benefits for utilities, enterprises, and communities in achieving their goals, including resilience of grid, consumer engagement, operational efficiency, as well as decarbonisation.

The collaboration will focus on security, value, and reliability. It will address critical challenges in industries that include emissions of greenhouse gases, carbon tracking, clean energy matching, data accessibility, zero carbon goals, and operational insights.

It will also provide integrated solutions for measuring, reporting, and expediting the path to net zero for utility companies and their customers.

By ramping up the number of cloud-ready solutions for the next-generation technology stack, the partnership aims to facilitate faster deployment, boost cost effectiveness, and improve security and resilience.

Microsoft worldwide energy industry CVP Darryl Willis said: “The collaboration between Itron and Microsoft will enable utilities and smart cities to take advantage of cloud computing technology—in particular, edge computing—to accelerate cloud-native analytics, distribution automation, carbon reporting and provide an overall more flexible, scalable system that supports a distributed, resilient energy grid.”

With the help of Microsoft, Itron is said to be fast tracking the extension of its Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), data management and analytics solutions to the cloud in global markets.

Itron outcomes senior vice president Don Reeves said: “Expanding our collaboration with Microsoft is core to our commitment to delivering industry-leading solutions that make it easier for end-users to reduce their carbon footprint and conserve water.

“Our collaboration will provide analytics and data-sharing capabilities for utilities and cities, so they can optimise their operations and accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy.

“As utilities begin to deploy edge compute-enabled connected IoT platforms, a new level of collaboration and co-innovation is needed for the utilities to harvest the unprecedented opportunity for growth and creating value.”