Smart meter networking
Extracting intelligence from smart metering
Daryl Miller looks at the benefits of smart metering and the benefits that networking such technology could bring to residential, commercial and industrial properties
A
smart meter looks similar to a traditional electricity meter, except for its ability to
communicate how much electricity is used by the day, hour and minute. The information sourced is relayed automatically through a variety of technologies that optimise cost and ease connectivity. Depending on how it is equipped, the meter can also be the connection vehicle to control devices within a home or business; even switching on and off power to energy-consuming appliances. Water heaters, air conditioners and extractor fans are the typical large energy- consuming appliances that are targeted.
Having the ability to network smart meters brings out their true value. As the deployment of the ‘smart grid’ is rolled out to the UK, the remote access component of smart meters validates their importance.
36 July/August 2010 Components in Electronics
In the last 40 years, measurement and billing requirements for the utilities sector have retained a relative stability. With suppliers billing their consumers every quarter and with meter readings fairly sporadic, utilities have maintained a one-way dialogue with customers. But the mandate for smart metering, with its
environmental, cost and consumer- driven imperatives, is set to shatter this complacency.
Smart meters are being deployed worldwide; however, it is the network that brings out their true value. While plans to implement domestic smart metering – to cut energy use and carbon emissions – will vary from country to country, we can expect most developed regions to take steps towards this standard within the next 10 years. Already, the UK Government plans to fit every home with smart meters by the end of 2020. This project
will see 26 million electric meters, and 22 million gas meters installed costing around £7 billion.
Utilities companies are now measuring real-time use of demand for electricity and gas, and this accurate data from the meters is used to measure the providers’ capacity to deliver energy.
There are numerous benefits of this application. Equipped with control capabilities, utilities can offer cheaper prices to consumers who volunteer their energy-hungry appliances to be shut-off remotely during peak energy times of the day. The utility provider can more efficiently match demand with capacity using smart meters, and the network that interconnects them. Government and energy suppliers can reap the benefits of measuring and monitoring peak demand in real-time. Further, they can use this information to plan upgrades to infrastructure. Decisions to either build a new power station or simply redistribute supply from one area to another, for example, can be more informed than ever before.
Infrastructure for utilities must be designed to deliver energy efficiency at
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