EnOcean Alliance, IBM to Standardize Intelligent Building Solutions for Internet of Things

San Ramon, CA– November 29, 2016 – The EnOcean Alliance reports it has significantly expanded and strengthened its program in building automation and the Internet of Things, with IBM supporting the EnOcean Alliance as a Promoter Member.

The EnOcean Alliance is a consortium of more than 400 companies that standardize and develop intelligent building solutions integrating energy harvesting wireless technology. Together, IBM and the EnOcean Alliance will bring sensors to the cloud and develop self-powered solutions as a standard for the Internet of Things (IoT).

EnOcean-based sensors and devices operate large numbers of IoT devices efficiently and supply reliable data to IoT systems. Furthermore, the EnOcean Alliance offers the benefit of a broad, proven ecosystem of interoperable energy harvesting wireless sensor solutions, which are available for intelligent buildings worldwide. These solutions help optimize the utilization of buildings, create new service models and make buildings more flexible, more energy-efficient and altogether more cost-effective.

Self-powered Wireless Solutions
Using the sub 1 GHz band (ISO/IEC 14543-3-1X), the EnOcean wireless standard is described by sources to be perfectly suited for use in building automation and smart homes worldwide. In contrast to other wireless products that require batteries and their associated maintenance problems, EnOcean-based devices are self-powered and enable a  ‘fit and forget’ sensor solution. Energy harvesters gain energy from the surrounding environment, including motion, light or temperature differences, to power wireless modules. This energy harvesting principle makes the devices maintenance-free.  

The IBM Watson IoT Platform is a fully managed, cloud-hosted service that makes it simple to build and deploy apps for IoT devices, sensors and gateways.

Cloud Connection
The IBM Watson IoT Platform is a fully managed, cloud-hosted service that makes it simple to build and deploy apps for IoT devices, sensors and gateways. When combined with the IBM Bluemix® environment, and the secure Watson APIs, the platform allows integration and analyzes predictive, cognitive, and contextual analytics for stronger decision-making. Organizations are able to securely and easily connect devices, ranging from chips and intelligent appliances to applications and industry solutions. Scaling through cloud-based services and using rich analytics, the IBM Watson IoT Platform provides organizations with new insight for innovation and transformation. IBM TRIRIGA provides a single system to manage the lifecycle of facilities. Its integrated workplace management system increases the operational, financial and environmental performance of facilities.

Interoperable network
In close collaboration, the EnOcean Alliance and IBM define and expand standards for self-powered solutions for the IoT. Together, both partners standardize the EnOcean to IP interface and simplify the usage of applications in the IoT. This, for example, allows the integration of energy-harvesting wireless technology into the IBM Watson IoT Platform to conduct predictive and real-time analysis of facilities. These solutions can be used in various cases from asset management, ambient assisted living projects, insurance or hotel and campus projects, giving maintenance-free wireless switches and sensors based on EnOcean technology.

Nigel Milton, Watson IoT European Ecosystem Executive, said: "IBM is excited to join the EnOcean Alliance as a promoter member. The EnOcean Alliance is specialized in self-powered wireless sensor solutions and will continue to progress as a key partner in the IBM Watson IoT ecosystem. For the past 12 months, IBM has been working with EnOcean and look forward to strengthening our relationship with them, as well as all members of the EnOcean Alliance." 

Graham Martin, Chairman of the EnOcean Alliance, comments: “We are very excited to welcome IBM as a new promoter member in the EnOcean Alliance. With IBM’s long-standing expertise in cloud-based services and IoT, we have gained a very strong partner in the ecosystem. We are looking forward to a successful cooperation to build the future of IoT.”

One recent example of this excellent partnership is the development of a solution for the Internet of Things sector: together with its partners, IBM, Digital Concepts and element14, EnOcean GmbH has launched a certified kit called “Intelligent Building – Self-powered IoT Solution” with batteryless EnOcean-based wireless sensors.

About IBM
For more information about IBM Watson IoT, visit www.ibm.com/iot.