IEC e-tech - May 2010 Edition

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
• (more)

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. (more)

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. (more)

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 (Electricit� de France) in North America. (more)

Wolfgang Kreinberg is Chairman of the IECEE FIC (Factory Inspection Committee) and Senior Consultant International Affairs, T�V S�D Product Service.

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

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. (more)

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. (more)

"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. (more)

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. (more)

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. (more)

Flag of Oman

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, Fran�oise Rauser, described what the IEC has been doing in developing and industrializing countries over the last half-year. (more)

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. (more)

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. (more)

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 P�rssitalo, the historical stock exchange building. (more)

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. (more)

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
• (more)

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. (more)

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

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If you have any questions and/or comments, please contact Philippa Martin-King at [email protected].