IBM partners with CUNY to study, establish solar adoption in New York City

June 8, 2012 - Syanne Olson - pv-tech.org

Graphic of IBM Intelligent Operations Center for Smarter Cities displaying solar capacity in the five boroughs of New York City. Image: PRNewsFoto/IBM

IBM and CUNY Ventures, a City University of New York (CUNY) Economic Development unit, have partnered under the Smart NY program in order to encourage the adoption of solar. The program aims to develop the ability to analyse and understand key solar market indicators that make solar systems more cost competitive by using IBM's Intelligent Operation Centre (IOC) for Smarter Cities.

CUNY Ventures will access and evaluate the data from the NYC Solar Portal and the NYC Solar Map with five state and city division participating in the solar market analytics including the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, the NYC Mayor's Office of Long Term Planning and Sustainability, Consolidated Edison, the NYC Department of Buildings and the NYC Economic and Development Corporation.

Data will be delivered in real time from different sources, including the NYC Solar Map, and provide a searchable dashboard of key performance indicators and trends. CUNY Ventures plans to use this information in order to hone in on resource usage and find barriers. The companies advised that after one year of successful completion, plans are in place to expand the effort to other major regions in the state with the overall goal to create standards and streamline the permitting process

"As people migrate to urban centers in greater numbers, demand increases on city infrastructures and resources," said Craig Hayman, general manager, IBM Industry Solutions. "Intelligent automation of key services such as energy, water, transportation and public safety is the solution to help meet these challenges. Developing leadership in sustainable resources, as New York is doing with solar energy, serves as a model for meeting citizens' needs while achieving the operational goals of the city."