OREANDA-NEWS. NTT DATA Corporation, a global IT services leader, and AutoGrid Systems, Inc. (External Link) a leader in Big Data Analytics for the electricity and energy industry, announced a strategic research and development (R&D) agreement to develop new technologies for the energy sector based on AutoGrid’s Energy Data Platform (EDP).

The need for managing peak electricity demand is already very high in the U.S. and Japan, and is expected to be a major worldwide trend in the coming years. NTT DATA and AutoGrid will utilize big data techniques to develop a novel cloud-based demand side management application that will help electricity users save billions of dollars every year while improving grid reliability.

The alliance combines AutoGrid’s expertise in predictive analytics, Big Data and cloud-based applications and NTT DATA’s industry leading experience in implementing large and complex information systems across the globe. On successful completion of the proposed R&D projects, the partnership will leverage NTT DATA’s global reach and AutoGrid’s rapidly growing presence with North American Utility and Energy Services Providers to jointly market and deploy these applications in the US and the rest of the world. The project will start in September of 2013.

“Energy management is one of the most dynamic segments in today’s technology industry. Big Data driven applications deployed on the cloud will give utilities, business users and consumers an unprecedented ability to precisely monitor, control and predict their energy needs”, said Executive Vice President, Head of Public Sector, Toshio Iwai. “Through our collaboration with AutoGrid, we hope to undertake transformative research that can lead to dramatic improvements in the world’s energy productivity.”

“We are extremely excited to be working with NTT DATA,” said Amit Narayan, CEO and founder of AutoGrid. “NTT DATA is one of the most respected global brands and an established world leader in implementing and deploying enterprise scale information technology applications. By leveraging NTT DATA’s deep expertise in cloud , Big Data and global software delivery capabilities, this collaboration will help us towards our mission of enabling access to affordable, reliable and sustainable energy for the world.”