Scroll down for quick news takes from Smart Cities Council partners.
Daimler and Bosch partner on autonomous taxis
Council Lead Partner Daimler and automotive components company Bosch are working together to bring autonomous taxis to city streets. They plan to develop an autonomous driving system that will allow passengers to hail a cab with a smartphone app, and they expect to deliver the taxis within the next few years. The two companies say the autonomous taxis will improve traffic flow and road safety – and boost the appeal of car sharing.
Ooredoo picked for oil field communications project
Council Lead Partner Ooredoo has signed an agreement with energy industry company Halliburton to strengthen company communications and connectivity as the company begins operating in Oman oil fields. Ooredoo will deploy its auto-tracking VSAT technology to ensure Halliburton employees can remain in constant contact whether they're on-site or traveling to remote locations. Ooredoo has been providing Halliburton with telecommunications technology since 2010.
Oracle wins recognition for water efficiency commitment
The Silicon Valley Water Conservation Awards Coalition has recognized Council Lead Partner Oracle with an overall award for its commitment to efficient water use. By incorporating technology from HydroPoint Data Systems, the company was able to save $573,000 on potable water costs at two of its Silicon Valley campuses in 2016 through its water reclamation, smart irrigation and other conservation measures.
Texas-New Mexico Power to upgrade with Itron AMI solution
Texas-New Mexico (TNMP) has chosen Council Lead Partner Itron's Total Outcomes solution to manage, operate and maintain the company's cellular advanced metering infrastructure, one of the largest of its kind in the country. The utility will migrate its entire system, including meter data management and collection and analytics to Itron. The move will allow TNMP to concentrate its resources on core business operations.
Enel takes on major Australia solar PV project
Council Associate Partner Enel has acquired the first phase of Australia's 275 MW Bungala Solar PV project, considered the largest ready-to-build project in the country. Bungala Solar One is the 137.5 MW phase of the project and the acquisition is expected to close during the third quarter of this year. The joint venture between Enel subsidiary Enel Green Power and Dutch Infrastructure Fund represents a $315 million investment. with Enel's contribution to be about $157 million. The Bungala Solar project, located in South Australia, is expected to produce 570 GWh of power per year. It is Enel's first venture in Australia.
Mark your calendars for Smart Cities Week Silicon Valley...
Smart Cities Week Silicon Valley will bring together city leaders and technology innovators to explore trends and disruptive technologies for smart cities. The conference kicks off on Monday, May 8 with in-depth pre-conference workshops on crucial topics such as resilience and readiness. Click to learn more and register.
Doug Peeples is a Portland, Oregon-based writer specializing in technology and energy. Follow @smartccouncil on Twitter.
