AT&T and Petra Solar signed an agreement under which AT&T will expand its smart grid offers by combining its smart grid technology with Petra Solar's solar energy harvesting technology in a single package. By offering this packages, AT&T is hoping the give companies a way to address Renewable Portfolio Standard requirements and invest in smart grid systems at the same time.

Petra Solar has designed and manufactured the first "smart grid interactive solar elecric system", which is installed on utility distribution poles. Each system operates as an individual power generation station, combining solar power, smart grid and power management, allowing utilities to manage their grids and improve quality of power supply. In case you were wondering, the power generating stations are connected to the power grid via the secondary power lines installed on the lighting poles.

AT&T will provide network connections for the power generating systems through its wireless network. Petra Solar is currently installing up to 200,000 systems on poles in 300 largest suburban communities in New Jersey (USA). Both companies express satisfaction with being able to combine wireless networking technology with smart grid and clean power generation solutions, to offer an economic choice for utilities.

[source: AT&T]