With an intention to shore-up the development and delivery of smart grid, Great Britain has launched a new cross-industry body, called SmartGrid GB.

The new cross-industry body’s membership includes key players from the energy sector, ICT companies, regulators, consumer groups and environmental organizations.

Intellect, a trade association for the country’s technology sector and key players in the nation’s utilities industry, has led the initiative.

Intellect’s Robert McNamara said that the success of smart grid would generate new jobs and provide a boost to innovation in the country, Charles Hendry, Minister of State for Energy & Climate Change, said the smart grid’s accomplishment would be of critical significance to the country’s future.

Speaking on the importance of smart grid, Mr. Hendry said, “It will be essential for meeting our future energy demands, ensuring our energy supply remains secure and resilient, and reducing our overall carbon emissions.”

The list of founding members of SmartGrid GB includes Intellect, Alcatel-Lucent, Cable & Wireless, GE, British Gas, IBM, Power Plus Communications, Logica, npower, Oracle, SAP, Siemens, Utilisoft and UK Power Networks. SmartGrid GB has become the newest member of the international organization, called Global Smart Grid Federation, which Ireland, the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, India, and South Korea.