On May 28, Intel Corporation and the China Strategic Alliance of Smart Energy Industrial Technology Innovation jointly held an unveiling ceremony at the Next Generation Internet Engineering Center in Beijing to announce the official inauguration of the Smart Energy Joint Laboratory. This represents a new milestone for Intel in responding to national strategies on energy conservation, emission reduction and the development of the Internet Plus initiative. By partnering with industrial players, Intel is integrating mobile Internet, cloud computing, big data, the Internet of Things and other digital technologies with energy science and technology to drive the intelligent transformation of the energy sector.Representatives from Intel and the alliance attended the ceremony and elaborated on their joint cooperation plans covering strategic planning, technical support and market expansion.

Richard P. Dwyer, Vice President of Intel Sales & Marketing Group and General Manager of Direct and Channel Sales Division, said in his address that smart energy boasts huge development opportunities. People often view it as a simple concept, yet it can solve numerous real-world problems and play a crucial role in various sectors, particularly in lifting energy efficiency. He expressed the hope that the newly launched laboratory can fully leverage its new capabilities to deliver greater value for enterprises and society.

Wang Zhongmin, Chairman of the National Energy Conservation and Emission Reduction Standardization Technology Alliance, noted that Internet thinking must be integrated into every link of the energy sector — ranging from energy exploitation, processing and utilization to energy conservation, environmental protection, haze abatement and greenhouse gas emission control. Co-establishing the laboratory with Intel marks the groundbreaking start of smart energy development and complies with the general historical trend. He also stressed that energy-saving service companies should pursue differentiated development amid the growth of smart energy. They shall bring smart energy solutions to households and provide residential services on one hand, and support grassroots enterprises to further expand smart energy applications across the energy-saving service industry on the other.

Liu Dong, Executive Vice Chairman of the China Strategic Alliance of Smart Energy Industrial Technology Innovation, Chairman of Tiandi Internet and Director of the Smart Energy Joint Laboratory, stated that the Internet Plus initiative, smart energy and the Energy Internet are increasingly converging amid stricter energy conservation and emission reduction requirements. First, Internet Plus has greatly driven China’s economic growth and is gradually penetrating primary and secondary industries led by the energy sector. Second, as a key pillar of the Internet Plus strategy, the Energy Internet is projected to generate over RMB 20 trillion in GDP growth within the next decade. Third, once the Energy Internet develops into a large-scale industry, smart energy will steer its progress. Going forward, the Alliance will build an open smart energy platform based on open Internet frameworks and unified standards, advance integration between the Internet and the energy industry, and enable intelligent energy production, consumption and management. Liu Dong hoped that through persistent joint efforts of all participants, the laboratory could build an Energy Internet trading platform in the incremental market and expand the impact of smart energy on energy conservation and emission reduction.

Later, witnessed by conference attendees and multiple media reporters, leaders of both sides jointly lit the inauguration installation symbolizing a green earth, officially unveiling the laboratory. During the interview session, leaders from both sides gave detailed responses to questions covering smart energy security, core lab technologies and long-term development plans.

Founded less than two years ago, the China Strategic Alliance of Smart Energy Industrial Technology Innovation has won unanimous praise from government authorities, universities and enterprises. Rooted in alliance standards and international smart energy standards including ISO/IEC/IEEE 18880, and relying on the national public service platform for smart energy, the Alliance delivers standardized products and services to the industry, guides industrial advancement and promotes the rollout of the Energy Internet. Intel’s IoT business has long strived to address critical social challenges. Through cooperation with the Alliance, Intel aims to resolve bottlenecks caused by market fragmentation and industrial barriers.