Smart metering and the smart grid
Building the case for KNX n
The conference was encouraged to look at
the opportunities presented by the growing market for building control systems that use the KNX standard, with presentations by KNX director Heinz Lux (right) and Iain Gordon, president of KNX UK. Heinz Lux gave delegates
Presenting an informative update on the future of smart metering and the smart grid, chief executive officer of the Energy Networks Association, David Smith, explained some of the issues surrounding the proposed smart meter rollout and how they are being addressed. He told delegates that the new technology means both smarter use of our energy networks and a smarter society. Framing the issues involved in the UK’s energy
consumption, he outlined the radical transformation he expects in the move to low carbon. ‘The whole pace of change will be dramatic,’ he said, and ‘the shape will affect everybody from… contractors through to… network operators.’ He spoke about the major issues that need to be addressed with the smart meter rollout. The programme, mandated by government, is set to be completed by 2019, although the mass rollout isn’t set to begin until the second quarter of 2014 and the meters aren’t built yet. The scale of the project – with 54 million meters to change in homes and businesses across the UK – is huge, and means 29 million visits to homes within the UK. And ENA expect issues with up to 16 per cent of homes. ‘There is only one opportunity to get it right, and we
have to make sure we get it right,’ Smith said. Ultimately, this is about the move to a ‘smart grid’
as far as network operators are concerned, Smith told delegates. He outlined what the network operators want from the smart grid and how this can be more effectively achieved. That means using energy in a smarter way, encouraging two-way power flows when it is possible. Looking at opportunities for the electrical sector from
the smart meter rollout and smart grid, Smith said: ‘Opportunities [for electrical contractors] to work in the home and office settings will dramatically increase as we become smarter,’ he said, ‘because the changes that we will need to make to our home and office settings in order to facilitate the lower carbon agenda will be quite radical.’ As a society we need to get smarter, as consumers
we need to think about how we use our energy, Smith said. However, ‘Everything should be simple and trouble free; we can’t afford for this to be a difficult process,’ he concluded. ‘If we get it wrong we lose a once in a generation opportunity to radically change our industry, and we will be stuck with a system that will be out of kilter, potentially, with a large chunk of the world.’
a broad overview of how KNX-based intelligent building solutions have been adopted throughout the world, with 234 manufacturers already signed up to the standard in more than 30 countries. Iain Gordon, who runs his
own electrical contracting business, specialising in intelligent building solutions using KNX, gave a UK perspective to the opportunities arising from the increasing take-up of the technology, and the higher margins this offered. In his outline Heinz Lux
stressed the worldwide standard credentials of KNX, and the guaranteed interoperability and interworking that brings to products from a range of market manufacturers. There are at least 7,000 KNX- certified products currently on the market, Lux said. He gave the audience a rundown of other advantages the KNX standard offers, including: high-quality control
standards, compliant with ISO 9001; a manufacturer- independent software tool – ETS – that allows the planning, engineering and configuration of all KNX- certified products and the combination of products from different manufacturers; its suitability for use across all home and building control applications; its scalability for use in all types of new and existing buildings; support for different configuration modes – including an ‘easy’ mode – to suit installations of varying complexity; support for several communication media; its capability to be coupled with other systems via gateways; and its independence from software or hardware technology platforms. The use of KNX also offers significant improvements in energy efficiency, Lux told delegates. KNX has also supported smart meter technology for 15 years. Iain Gordon built on
Lux’s presentation, with an
overview of KNX in the UK market and the opportunities this technology presents for electrical contractors. He outlined how the KNX UK association is promoting KNX, and how it is working to ensure it is the first technology chosen by consultants, architects and engineers. He also discussed the training opportunities it is developing for electrical contractors across the UK. Looking at opportunities
for contractors, Gordon said the total electrical market was worth around £4 billion a year, with the controls market worth an additional £600 million a year. KNX currently accounts for only £16 million a year with high-end residential accounting for 60 per cent – but it is rising. It is anticipated that, over the
next five years, there will be big growth in KNX opportunities for electrical contractors. ‘With KNX you can profess to be in the forefront of energy mangement and conservation,’ Gordon said.
Evelyne Schellekens, secretary general of the AIE (European Association of Electrical Contractors) urged delegates. Her presentation offered a European perspective on the future of the electrical contracting industry.
A EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVE ON n
The UK electrical contracting industry should seize the opportunities that Europe is bringing,
She took delegates through the expected scenario for European-wide energy consumption and generation over the coming years, and outlined some of the challenges faced by EU nations to achieve CO2
reduction targets. She presented an
overview of the role of Europe in developing and implementing key legislation affecting the industry, and the opportunities
these could bring for electrical contractors. She also explained the role of the AIE and the importance of it working in Brussels – noting that 75 per cent of UK national law derives directly from decisions taken at EU level. By 2050, Schellekens informed delegates: ‘It’s likely we will need to produce more electricity than we do today, but we will have to do it while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.’ In the climate change debate, she said: ‘Sometimes electricity is turned into a climate problem, and in another context electricity is an important climate solution.’ Schellekens discussed the changing nature of electrical usage and the increasing use of technological solutions to
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ECA Today July 2011
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