The conventional standard ISO4064/OIML R49 mainly refers to the metering and mechanical features of the water meter, such as R100 or R160, the length of the meter is 165mm or 190mm. There is currently no unified standard for smart water meters except IEC62055-41,51 which is the standard for STS prepayment functions.

The DLMS in the AMI function is more popular in smart electricity meters, so how to select a smart prepaid water meter has become a challenge for water utilities. This article tries to propose the key aspects of the reliability of smart water meters.

Generally speaking, according to the special working environment of tropical rainforest or dry desert climate in African countries, the requirements for smart water meter will be more strict than in Asia or South America. In summary, the critical aspects of the smart water meters that need to be considered are as follows:

1. Communication Method for Remote Data Reading

In the previous article, “Why Prepaid Water Meters Must Be Smart”, we have explained why prepaid water meters must support remote reading or two-way communication. So how to choose the suitable communication method from GPRS, NBIoT, 3G, 4G, LoRa, LoRaWAN, Sigfox or Bluetooth? First, whether local telecommunication companies provide NBIoT network which specifically designed for smart meters or other IoT devices as a LPWAN network.

Compared to GPRS, NBIoT module has the characteristics of low battery consumption, and the data flow cost of NBIoT is also much lower than GPRS, 3G or 4G network, the common point is that all of these communications require a SIM card, either an e-SIM for PCBA or a physical SIM card, which means the water utility needs to pay for data flow on a monthly basis.

2. Battery Life from 6 Years to 10 Years

Battery lifespan not only depends on the battery capacity indicated by mAh, such as the ER26500 is typically 8500mAh, but also closely related to the power consumption of smart water meters in different situations, such as communication technology. And how firmware is designed to manage power consumption, like sleeping mode. And 3rd, the power consumption is also related to the working environment, IP level of the meters and the components. Sometimes manufacturers declare battery life of more than 8 years or even higher, but without any documentation from the battery provider, theoretical calculations such as Saft or Tadiran may require further evaluation.

3. IP Level for Smart Meters and Independent Components Such as PCB or Battery

The IP level of the smart water meter is preferable IP68, since the smart meter can sometimes be immersed in water. But when the service life of the meter increases to above 3 years or more, only the meter body is IP68 may still be a challenge, because the material of the meter may start to deform due to sunlight and rain, so it is better to require that the battery cabinet, valve, and PCB must IP68, and have a 3rd party certificate.

4. The material of the meter body, such as brass, or different types of plastic.

In Africa, the theft of brass material is inevitable, so a plastic body may be more suitable for water companies. Additionally, the Meter Casing material must be UV-resistant, resistant to high temperature up to 65°C and fire-resistant. Water permeability characteristics are also an optional indicator for choosing materials because of the high humidity in some areas.

5. Leakage Detection Inside or Outside the Door

The leakage detection function of the smart water meter can be realized through night flow monitoring. As the main IoT device in the water pipe network, the smart water meter is also an important part of the DMA, District Management Area, which is another major topic of water leakage management.

6. Bypass Detection and Anti-tamper Functions

Cases of bypassing smart meters usually occur because of the purpose of evading payment. Smart water meters must have the ability to close valves automatically or record events when they occur, and technical solutions may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, and water companies can compare and choose an effective way. Other anti-tamper functions such as anti-magnetic and meter cover opening events etc. can be considered as optional functions.

7. Prepaid or Postpaid Working Mode

Prepaid water meters are only one working mode of smart water meters, and there is one paradox that in most cases, water utilities cannot cut off the water supply to industry users who do not pay for their bills, such as government institutes, hospitals etc.. Therefore, it is necessary to design prepaid functions in the platform, and smart meters support remote valve control.

8. Flexible Water Purchase and Payment Solutions

The concept of digitization is well known today, and it can help water companies adjust their operations processes. With the integration of smart water meters and Mobile payments, organizations no longer need meter reading workers, who can join smart water meter maintenance teams, or build telecommunications networks. Mobile payment platforms now are also popularly used in mechanical water meter billing. And for STS prepaid water meters, they have inherent advantage since they adopt digital encryption technology for 20-bit token transmission.

9. SaaS Software Based on Cloud or Web System Based on Physical Server

Many software companies now recommend cloud-based software solutions, since it is more flexible and expandable when the number of system users continues to increase. But some countries still have limitations on data security, so if leading cloud service providers such as Amazon and Google have not yet established branches in specific countries, a physical server-based web system is also a good choice for water companies. Both of them are not required to be installed on a PC, only user ID and password authorization to log in to the system, check reports or start daily operations like Registration or Vending.

10. Training and Local Maintenance Support

Training may need to take place in different stages, such as a Concept Presentation during ROI, a Request for Interest from the project team or a pilot project stage, and eventually extend to the whole operations team. Local maintenance is a very important factor in ensuring the success of a project, which relates to technical support, training and supply of CKD or components. Many water companies now prefer local assembly with local maintenance as one of the main modules in the workshop.

Read more news from LAISON

Anyhow, there are some other factors that may affect the sustainability of prepaid water meter services, but if water companies can understand the most important of these causes, it will definitely help avoid the failure of smart water meters and digital billing projects, which is a big investment and expect to bring the significant improvements in operations.

If you have any comments, please contact the author: Mr. Raymond Zheng on WhatsApp, +86 131 85002086, laisontech@gmail.com

09h00 New York | 13h00 GMT | 14h00 London | 15h00 Amsterdam | 15h00 Johannesburg | 17h00 Dubai | 18h30 New Delhi | 21h00 Singapore

60-minute session

Congestion management is a challenge for many grid Distribution System Operators (DSOs) and to reliably manage congestion they require detailed insights into the hot spots and bottlenecks, accurate forecasting and network calculations and collaboration between customers, market parties and stakeholders but this all needs to be underpinned with precise asset data.

Stedin, DSO for 2.3+ million customers in the Netherlands, realised that the asset data they used for their network calculations resulted in anomalies.

Join this webinar to hear industry experts discuss:
• Stedin’s approach to validating asset data for their 22,000 Medium Voltage substations
• The value Stedin is getting from the uplifted asset data
• Use cases for reducing incidents, congestion management, capacity planning and asset management

Speakers:

Wouter van Deurzen, Data Quality Manager | Stedin

André Kleinrensink, Project Director | eSmart Systems

CAMBRIDGE, MA. – August 14, 2023 – GE Vernova’s Digital business today announced it has acquired Greenbird Integration Technology AS, a data integration platform company focused on utilities. This acquisition highlights GE Vernova’s commitment to investing in technologies and talent that help accelerate the sustainable energy grid.

The platform will accelerate GridOS®, the world’s first software portfolio designed specifically for grid orchestration, adding new capabilities for connecting systems and integrating data across the grid more easily and at scale. The financial terms of the acquisition are not being disclosed.

“Utilities have an urgent need to connect data from multiple sources to gain visibility and effectively automate their grid operations. Fragmented data is a major obstacle to modernizing the grid and is holding the energy transition back,” said Scott Reese, CEO of GE Vernova’s Digital business.

“The Greenbird acquisition brings the proven ability to connect multiple data sources and accelerates our vision for GridOS that is making energy security a reality for many of the world’s leading utilities. Data and AI are key to helping utilities run a reliable and resilient grid and this acquisition is a massive accelerant to making that vision a reality for utilities of all sizes.”

The GridOS orchestration software platform and application suite enables secure and reliable grid operations while delivering resiliency and flexibility needed by utilities worldwide. GridOS delivers these tools with the cloud service provider and system integrator partner ecosystem necessary to accelerate grid modernization and the energy transition. The software portfolio uses a federated data fabric to pull together energy data, network modelling, and AI-driven analytics from across the grid.

The Greenbird acquisition will expand the capabilities of the data fabric, eliminating data silos to make it faster and easier to connect and aggregate energy data, reducing the time and expense of data integration projects. This also better connects modern software like Advanced Energy Management System (AEMS), Advanced Distribution Management Solutions (ADMS), and Distributed Energy Resource Management System (DERMS), creating new opportunities for grid automation.

“Having access to utility data in context gives grid operators an opportunity to better leverage AI for automation and potentially enables the grid to be self-describing and self-healing in the future,” said Mahesh Sudhakaran, General Manager, Grid Software at GE Vernova’s Digital business. “This is the vision we have for grid orchestration enabled by the GridOS portfolio, and this acquisition provides both the technology and the talent to help us get there.”

“We started in 2010 with a mission to simplify data integration for utilities, helping them leverage data to run smarter, more efficient analytics-driven services to accelerate the energy transition,” said Thorsten Heller, CEO of Greenbird Integration Technology. “Our technology platform is purpose-built to support a distributed data and IT architecture and aligns perfectly with GE Vernova’s vision for the GridOS federated grid data fabric and one network model, providing the data foundation utilities need to transform their operations.”

An example of the need for more connected and integrated data is evident in the exponential growth predicted for electric vehicles (EVs) – there are expected to be 77M EVs on the road by 2025 and 229M by 2030 – that will both draw from and possibly contribute to the grid as “rolling batteries” that can be tapped when demand is high and supply is low. Integration of data from multiple sources like charging stations as well as operations, forecasting, billing, and other systems can support the success of future use cases such as vehicle-to-grid (V2G) while keeping the grid safe.

Read more news from Greenbird

Data integration is also key to solving renewables connection challenges. Approximately 1,350 gigawatts of additional, mostly sustainable power capacity is waiting to be constructed and connected to the grid. This large-scale interconnection backlog results in wasted capacity and unutilized investment. Scenario planning and grid simulations can provide an opportunity to increase line capacity and drive deeper visibility into the impact of such assets on the grid, allowing capacity to be connected faster and helping to reduce hundreds of millions of dollars of traditional back-up generators. Such use cases require the integration of forecasting, simulation, historical grid OT, sensor, line, and inertia data.

The Greenbird integration platform is delivered as a service (iPaaS) and is built with containerization and a suite of cloud services, which will accelerate the availability of key GridOS components. In addition, GE Vernova welcomes Greenbird’s innovative team to the Grid Software group, including data specialists skilled in developing and deploying distributed data processes at scale for utilities. The acquisition will advance the AI- and data-driven vision for GridOS that GE Vernova’s Digital business believes will solve grid orchestration challenges while cultivating an energy data ecosystem that advances decarbonization and electrification at scale.

Learn more about GridOS

About GE Vernova’s Digital Business

GE Vernova’s Digital business is putting data to work to accelerate a new era of energy. We deliver the platforms and intelligent applications necessary to accelerate electrification and decarbonization across the energy ecosystem – from how power is created, how it is orchestrated, to how it is consumed. More than 20,000 customers around the globe use our software to help plan, predict, manage, and optimize operations today for a sustainable tomorrow. For more information, visit the website.

About Greenbird Integration Technologies

Greenbird is an international solution and technology company with roots in Norway. We simplify the complexity of Big Data Integration to help organizations unlock the value of their data and mission critical applications. Our flagship innovation, Utilihive, is a cloud-native platform combining enterprise integration capabilities with a data lake optimized for energy use cases. We founded Greenbird in 2010 with a mission to revolutionize how the energy industry thinks about enterprise system integration. Today, Utilihive is used by more than 230 utilities across Europe, Middle East and Asia serving more than 50 million consumers. Greenbird is headquartered in Oslo and has around 50 employees, comprising primarily of senior developers and consultants and specializing in technology development and customer onboarding of the Utilihive platform. To learn how you can unleash the value of data while removing silos, explore more at www.greenbird.com.

Media contact:

Rachael Van Reen: rachael.vanreen@ge.com

While the benefits of this kind of computing capacity are tremendous, the risks are just as great if malicious actors get access to that same quantum capability. It is vital that the providers of all mission-critical networks prepare for that eventuality now.

What is quantum computing?

Conventional computers are based on the binary concept that electrical signals can be either on or off, which is traditionally expressed in 1s and 0s. From the earliest computers that ran programs off physical punch cards to today’s smartwatches, they have all used coding languages based on binary computations.

Quantum computers are based on the principles of quantum mechanics, which allow for many states between on and off. We are not even limited to one state at a time. This means these computers can not only perform their tasks much faster than conventional binary computers, but they can carry out multiple processes at once, increasing their capacity and speed exponentially.

This offers great opportunities for mission-critical industries. Mining, oil and gas companies can quickly and accurately determine the best places to drill, reducing costly and invasive exploratory excavations. Power utilities can better understand weather patterns and the impact of climate change and make usage predictions to prepare the grid in advance to avoid disruption. The aerospace industry can make major breakthroughs faster, being able to perform highly complex analyses at unprecedented speed. Defence organizations can use quantum sensing for deep-sea navigation, surveillance, and reconnaissance. Emergency services organisations can vastly improve preparedness due to more accurate advance notice of natural disasters. Research and Education Networks, dedicated to solving some of humanity’s biggest challenges from climate change to disease and world hunger, can make calculations that are impossible today and accelerate important breakthrough innovation.

Have you read?
Webinar 19 Sep: What’s driving utilities to embrace IEC 61850?
Nokia announces new 4G and 5G Core network software solutions for mission-critical needs of enterprise verticals

Who is using quantum now?

Today’s quantum computers are highly specialised equipment that demand precise calibration and extreme cooling. That puts them out of reach for most organizations. The few quantum computers that have been built so far are owned by companies like IBM or large government entities. The capacity of today’s quantum computers is used for scientific and research purposes.

However, as demand for quantum computing increases in the private sector, more companies are likely to buy or rent capacity through an as-a-service model. Some innovators are also producing quantum annealers — smaller machines that are less powerful than full-scale quantum computers, but still offer much of the functionality companies are looking for.

Since 2021, Japanese manufacturers Toyota, Mitsubishi Chemical and ten other organizations have been sharing costs and using quantum computing to solve advanced problems, innovate materials for industrial applications and run autonomous vehicle scenarios as we prepare for the next generation of mobility. Mercedes-Benz is using quantum computing to accelerate battery performance for future electric vehicles.

Banks in the United States are running advanced financial computations. Researchers at Fraunhofer and the Cleveland Clinic are sequencing the human genome faster than ever before. Quantum has even been used to accelerate the study of COVID-19 treatments. And CERN, the European Council for Nuclear Research, is using quantum computing to analyse data from the Large Hadron Collider and accelerate our understanding of how the universe works.

Hacking at quantum speed

Today’s encryption mechanisms used to protect in-flight network data were developed to safeguard against an adversary using a conventional computer. Until now, these mechanisms were deemed strong enough to protect sensitive data because these computers cannot break the encryption within a practically useful timeframe.

It would take thousands of years to try every possible key combination. But with a quantum computer, a brute force attack can break most encryption ciphers, within minutes. Just as quantum computers can calculate at speed, access to the technology in the wrong hands means bad actors can also hack at quantum speed.

To launch such an attack requires a Cryptographically Relevant Quantum Computer (CRQC): a quantum computer large enough and equipped with the software required to break the asymmetric ciphers typically used in encryption today. The good news is that no such computer exists… yet. But it’s only a matter of time before a CRQC is developed. That moment is referred to as Q-Day — and while some experts believe its arrival to be most likely by 2030, based on recent developments many experts predict it could arrive sooner.

The potential for disaster when Q-Day comes is substantial. With standard encryption protections rendered useless, all networks will become vulnerable to attack. Malicious actors could cripple the world’s mission-critical networks like power grids and water utility systems with life-threatening consequences, in seconds. Financial markets could be tampered with, sending economies into turmoil. Vital medical systems and research could be impacted, causing irreparable damage to medications, vaccines and other life-saving treatments, setting advancements back to the drawing board.

But the risk does not start on Q-Day. Bad actors can “harvest” encrypted data now — even if they can’t do anything with it — and simply hold onto it until they can decrypt it with a CRQC. It is imperative that we start protecting mission-critical data against quantum hacking now.

Read more news from Nokia

Is it even possible to protect networks from quantum hacking?

Yes. Fortunately, quantum-safe networking technology exists right now.

A symmetric, centralized Classic Key Distribution Network (CKDN) is a way of sharing strong keys separately from encrypted data, making it harder for hackers to acquire both pieces required to access the data. This technology has been in use for several years and is an important element of quantum safety. But it is only effective for certain types of network connections and needs to be complemented by other tools and technologies.

To expand quantum security, it will take a multi-faceted approach. Quantum keys, utilising quantum mechanics as the key material source and transmitted through a quantum key distribution network (QKDN), are currently in development and will provide another layer of security.

Cryptographers are also working on post-quantum asymmetric ciphers, designed to withstand quantum attacks. A future quantum-safe ecosystem will include all three of these elements: CKDN, quantum keys and post-quantum ciphers, as well as other technologies that have not even been thought of yet. The goal is to always stay one step ahead.

The quantum threat cannot be ignored and outdated networking technologies or the mindset of “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” just won’t fly. Modernized networking technologies with built-in quantum-safe mechanisms will help. Nokia has been at the forefront of research on quantum-safe optical networking, embedding CKDN into our solutions for years. We are currently the only network vendor to offer a quantum-safe solution for our customers — and we are continuing to work with partners around the world on QKD trials and other innovations to ensure that when Q-Day comes, your mission-critical networks are ready.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

James Watt is Vice President and General Manager for the Optical Networks Division at Nokia. Prior to this, James was the Vice President and General Manager for the Services Business Unit, IP/Optical Networks, at Nokia and its predecessor in Alcatel-Lucent, President of the Optics Business Line in Alcatel-Lucent and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of the Alcatel-Lucent Carrier Product Group. Until 2008, James held the position of Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Alcatel-Lucent’s IP Business Division and had previously held the role of Vice President Network Strategy for Alcatel. James joined Alcatel in 2000 as Chief Technology Officer of the Carrier Internetworking Division through the acquisition of Newbridge Networks, where he was Assistant Vice President, Access and Network Management Strategy. During his 15 years with Newbridge, James held a variety of positions within the research & development, product management and marketing organizations. James holds multiple patents, primarily in the areas of traffic management and Internet Protocol. He received a B.SC. in Electrical Engineering from Queens University in Kingston, Ontario in 1986.

Chris Johnson is Senior Vice President and Global Head of Enterprise at Nokia. A veteran sales and business leader, Chris focuses on delivering critical network solutions for the world’s most essential industries. He is a passionate champion of industrial digitalization for enterprises and government organizations, with a deep understanding of how innovative and intuitive digital technologies can bring resilience, productivity, efficiency and sustainability to any operation. Drawing on his experience defining business strategies, developing teams, executing initiatives and driving profitable growth, Chris helps Nokia Enterprise customers harness the exponential potential of networks to unlock new business models and build capacity for long-term success.

IoT connects business operations to analytics for a seamless approach but there are a few hurdles to overcome in the journey to deployment.

KORE is an Energy Web partner – read more news from Energy Web

KORE leverages the latest research from a global Kaleido Intelligence survey focused on industry experts in energy and utilities IoT and use cases from Stedin and Ease2Pay to explore the market opportunity and real-life strategies for IoT applications.

Download the eBook, “IoT in Verticals: Powering Smarter Solutions” to learn:

• Challenges among cellular IoT adopters and non-adopters
• The eSIM and private network opportunities
• Details on how Stedin and Ease2Pay found success in IoT

Monitoring, maintenance, billing, optimisation, and security are key benchmarks in integrating IoT into operations, but complexities and a fragmented ecosystem can make the path forward difficult and sluggish if not managed properly.

KORE is an Energy Web partner – read more news from Energy Web

KORE, Kaleido Intelligence, Stedin, and Ease2Pay discuss the top challenges and opportunities in IoT for energy and utilities in this on-demand webinar. Download the webinar to learn:

• The results of Kaleido’s global survey within the energy and utilities industry
• Customer experience in leveraging IoT in the industry
• The top three energy and utilities innovations

Kaleido Intelligence’s recent survey, Serving the Enterprise, The Cellular IoT Connectivity Opportunity, breaks down the challenges and opportunities in IoT among key verticals.

These are the biggest concerns facing the energy and utilities industry:

A fragmented connectivity ecosystem

55 percent of cellular adopters said maintaining commercial relationships and device fleets with multiple connectivity providers is complex and is the number one challenge for IoT.

Issues with global connectivity and permanent roaming

50 percent of cellular IoT adopters ranked the ability to minimize permanent roaming risks as their number 1 priority.

Need for security

55 percent of cellular adopters said basic security features, such as SIM locking, location detection, and usage/cost overrun alerting are security features they expect from an IoT partner.

Turning to the advantages of eSIM

92 percent of cellular adopters count eSIM (eUICC) as part of their IoT deployment.

Growing interest in private LTE/5G

57 percent of cellular adopters have an interest in Private LTE/5G to enhance business operations.

KORE is an Energy Web partner – read more news from Energy Web

IoT for energy and utilities

IoT provides many opportunities for the energy and utilities industry to streamline operations through granular visibility and analytics. Leveraging sensor-based technology that creates actionable intelligence accessible through a unified platform helps build flexibility and optimality into operations and expansion.

Smart Metering

With smart sensors that can monitor usage, it is possible to have streamlined energy consumption and measuring, as well as insight into customer usage and performance to help optimize billing and system monitoring.

Water Conservation

Sensor-based monitoring can help ensure that water mainlines and pipes are not suffering any cracks or damages, leading to slow leaks that are costly over time. Water usage can be optimized leading to less use overall for a greater approach to water conservation.

Tank Monitoring

With affordable, ruggedized sensors and resilient connectivity, tank levels can be monitored to ensure that stocks are maintained at optimum levels to help manage costs and logistics.y

Maintenance and Prevention

Through full-scale monitoring of infrastructure, issues can be detected before they become critically problematic, leading to service interruptions, leaks, damage, and costly overruns.

A single source for utilities and energy needs

When you’re ready to add sustainability and intelligence to your energy and utilities application, you’re ready for KORE. With full scale connectivity options – including an eUICC, Multi-IMSI eSIM – Managed services, hardware, sercurity, an holistic platforms, KORE makes IoT a success in utilities. Reach out to learn more

KORE, a global leader in Internet of Things (“IoT”) Solutions and worldwide IoT Connectivity-as-a-Service (“IoT CaaS”), announced its collaboration with GroundWorx, a wireless innovations and water conservation company, to provide technology support for the company’s Ground & Weather Intelligence Platform as a Service.

For organizations globally, sustainable water management is an environmental goal and demonstrates good stewardship. For use by industries, especially agriculture, turf management, hotel and resorts, school and universities, and government services, e.g., municipal parks and smart communities and cities, GroundWorx has developed its GX-1 Soil Sensor that is easily installed by embedding in the ground where soil monitoring is desired. The soil sensor pairs with the GX-1 Micro Weather Station and an analytics dashboard.

KORE initially helped power the solution through the development of firmware, device certification and continues in its support through comprehensive, global connectivity. This collaboration enables organizations worldwide to easily manage water and electricity usage reducing strain on resources while providing an opportunity to lower overall costs.

“Water accessibility and sustainability are major challenges across the globe. Working with an innovative organization that is implementing IoT to help solve some of the most pressing environmental problems is a privilege for us,” KORE President and CEO Romil Bahl said. “Our focus as a company is to make it easy for our customers to leverage and scale IoT capabilities to help solve issues, such as the global water crisis. GroundWorx is a user-friendly approach to water conservation and optimization, and we are thrilled to collaborate on this initiative.”

The soil sensor collects data to report on soil moisture, temperature, and salinity and integrates with irrigation systems. This proactive approach to soil condition monitoring allows end users to water only when needed.

“We’ve seen all of our customers decrease water usage by 30% with very little effort,” GroundWorx Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO Brad David said.

KORE is an Energy Web partner – read more news from Energy Web

KORE has been critical in simplifying and streamlining the ability to implement GroundWorx solutions globally.

“With the help of KORE, we are able to ship these around the world,” GroundWorx CTO Diego Borrego said. “[Customers] open them up, take them out of the packaging, and they work.”

California Avocado Farm and High-End Golf Resort: Save millions of gallons of water monthly, increase employee efficiency and cost savings

John Haskett, owner of Lucky Charm Farms in San Diego, has implemented the GroundWorx solution at his avocado farm.

“California has a critical issue with water, and avocado trees are pretty voracious about their appetite for water,” Haskett said. “The traditional methods of watering avocado trees typically center largely on guesswork, and with the water bills very costly – in the tens of thousands of dollars range – we needed to find a better method of watering.”

In exploring options, the ease of use, installation, and comprehensive readings were key drivers in adopting the GroundWorx solution. The GroundWorx method of “dig and drop” installation and immediate pairing to smartphone devices allowed Lucky Charm Farms to continue operations with no shutdown during implementation and quickly reap the benefits of the system.

“These sensors take 144 readings a day,” Haskett said. “With greater data collection and enhanced analytics with thresholds built in our employees avoid watering too little or too much.”
David Yanez, Director of Agronomy at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar in San Diego, is leveraging the GroundWorx system to optimize water use for golf course fairways.

“The price for potable water has probably increased 300% in 10 years,” Yanez said. “And the challenge is providing the best quality course and playing conditions while using the right amount of water.”
Prior to the GroundWorx system, Yanez – much like many other golf course superintendents – was using a portable digital tool that takes individual soil samples at the surface. This solution was more labor intensive and not nearly as comprehensive as having multiple GroundWorx sensors embedded in the root zone that take numerous automatic readings per day.

Immediately, the data derived can be leveraged to make informed watering decisions. Yanez said, for example, he’s been able to better determine when he can skip irrigation cycles, which has realistically saved millions of gallons of water per month.

About KORE

KORE is a pioneer, leader, and trusted advisor delivering mission-critical IoT solutions and services. We empower organizations of all sizes to improve operational and business results by simplifying the complexity of IoT. Our deep IoT knowledge and experience, global reach, purpose-built solutions, and deployment agility accelerate and materially impact our customers’ business outcomes. For more information, visit korewireless.com.

This passage will showcase LAISON’s experience with Smart water meters and Digital Billing and response to the following major challenges in water companies’ operations:

1. How to improve the cash flow and revenue?

Smart water meters provide real-time data on water consumption, ensuring accurate billing and consistent cash flow. They can detect leaks, minimise Non-Revenue Water (NRW) and increase revenue.

Since the adoption of the Laison prepaid smart water metering solution by the Zambia National Water Supply Corporation (NWSC), both the water fee collection rate and revenue have significantly improved. Laison’s prepaid smart water metering solution enables the water utility to implement remote data collection functionality, allowing utilities to monitor consumption patterns more efficiently, identify customers with overdue bills, and take appropriate actions to recover debts.

2. How does the smart water metering and smart app help with water management?

Smart water meters provide real-time data on water consumption, leak detection, and system performance. This information is transmitted to utilities and accessible via Smart Apps, enabling continuous monitoring of water usage and distribution network status. This data is instrumental in long-term planning, infrastructure development, and policy-making for sustainable water management.

In Nigeria, some water utilities have adopted the LAISON GPRS smart water metering solution, along with the LAISON Aquacyber app. This solution facilitates online water fee payments and empowers users to access smart water meter data. Key features include prepaid billing and Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) capabilities, significantly enhancing the water board’s data collection and enabling remote data reading. Consequently, these features contribute to reducing Non-Revenue Water (NRW) rates.

3. The Walk by and AMI System application experience for remote data reading

The Walk-By and AMI System for Remote Meter Data Reading offers various advantages, including improved operational efficiency, accurate billing, customer engagement, and sustainability, making it a valuable utility management tool.

LAISON has applied its Walk-By and AMI System experience in Zimbabwe. The LAISON AMI system ensures real-time data transmission, allowing utilities to access up-to-date consumption information. This capability enhances decision-making and response times.

Read more news from LAISON

During installation, innovative solutions such as DCU pole installations and solar power supply were used to address challenges. These solutions effectively resolved DCU installation and power supply issues, leading to significant cost savings for the local water utility.

4. How to meet the challenges of technical upgrades on smart metering technology?

Before upgrading smart metering technology, water utilities should evaluate the current system and define clear objectives for addressing both current and future needs. LAISON offers tailored smart metering solutions and product upgrades. In Malawi, LAISON assisted BWB Water Utility in implementing a phased meter upgrade strategy, transitioning from Volumetric to Parise Series Smart Water Meters. This approach provided cost-effective solutions and extended battery life. Additionally, LAISON offers a comprehensive system solution, including hardware, software, and training.

For more details please contact laisontech@gmail.com

In this article, we will look into the reasons behind the occurrence of high voltage in open secondary circuits and emphasize the associated safety risks.

Understanding open secondary circuit

When the secondary circuit of a CT is open, it means there is no load or external circuit connected to the secondary winding. In this state, the CT experiences a condition of no current flow in its secondary winding. Consequently, the secondary winding behaves as a primary winding, producing a high voltage across its terminals. This voltage is directly proportional to the primary current and the turns ratio of the CT.

Reason for high voltage

The high voltage in an open secondary circuit can be attributed to electromagnetic induction. Under normal operation, the primary winding of the CT carries the actual current, which produces a magnetic field that causes mutual induction in the secondary winding. This induction generates a voltage across the secondary winding proportional to the primary current. However, in an open circuit scenario, the absence of a load results in no current flowing through the secondary winding. As a result, the full induced voltage remains across the terminals of the open secondary circuit.

An example of the potential voltage generated in an open secondary circuit of a Current Instrument Transformer (CT) can provide a clearer understanding. Let’s consider a situation where a CT has a turns ratio of 1000:1 and is measuring a primary current of 100 A. In this scenario, the voltage induced in the secondary winding can be calculated by multiplying the primary current by the turns ratio.

Voltage = Primary current x Turns ratio
Voltage = 100 A x 1000
Voltage = 100,000 V

Therefore, in this example, the voltage in the open secondary circuit can reach a staggering 100 kV. This showcases the significance of the safety risks associated with open secondary circuits and the critical importance of implementing proper precautions to prevent such high voltages from occurring.

Safety risks and hazards

The presence of high voltage in an open secondary circuit poses significant safety risks. First and foremost, it represents an electrocution hazard to anyone in close proximity to the open circuit terminals. The exposed high voltage can potentially cause severe electric shocks, leading to injuries or even fatalities.

Additionally, the insulation materials used in CTs are designed to withstand normal operating voltages but may not be capable of handling the excessively high voltages present during open circuit conditions. This can lead to insulation breakdown, resulting in arc flashes or electrical insulation failure. The resulting equipment damage and system downtime can have substantial financial implications.

Mitigating the risks

To prevent the potential hazards associated with open secondary circuits in CTs, it is essential to ensure that the secondary winding is never left open. This means either connecting a suitable load/resistor across the terminals or shorting the terminals together (known as short-circuiting). By providing a closed circuit for the secondary winding, the induced voltage is dissipated safely, minimizing the associated risks.

Read more news from Shenzhen CLOU

Takeaway

Leaving the secondary circuit of Current Instrument Transformers (CTs) open can lead to the generation of dangerously high voltages. Understanding the reasons behind this occurrence and the associated safety risks is crucial for electrical professionals.
By ensuring the secondary circuit is always properly connected or shorted, the potential hazards can be effectively mitigated, protecting both personnel and equipment from harm.

Regarding the question about ICTs (Insulating Current Transformers) in our test benches, it should be noted that these ICTs have a turns ratio of 1:1, resulting in an expected voltage of 120 V. However, these ICTs are equipped with protection mechanisms to address potential issues, such as shortening an open secondary circuit. This feature becomes particularly useful when certain test positions with meters are left unpopulated by the operator.

On-Site testing

On-site testing involves testing the energy meter while it is installed in the building. This method has several advantages:

Convenience

On-site testing is more convenient than laboratory testing, as it does not require the removal of the energy meter from the existing installation. This means that the testing can be conducted without disrupting the power supply.

Accuracy on actual load

On-site testing provides a more accurate representation of the energy meter’s performance under its operating conditions. This is because the energy meter is tested in the actual environment in which it is installed.

Cost

On-site testing is generally less expensive than laboratory testing, as it does not require the exchange and transportation of the energy meter to a laboratory.

Capturing of external effects

Wrong external wiring, instrument transformer ratios and burdens can only be checked on-site. The same is valid for obvious tamper cases and broken seals.

On-site testing also has some disadvantages:

On-site testing may be limited by the availability of testing equipment and the technical expertise of the tester. It is important to ensure that the testing is conducted by a qualified and trained professional.

A disconnection of the customer for testing with an external voltage/current source is rarely possible. So, other loads or different power factors can’t be checked without allowance of the end-user.

On-site testing may be time-consuming, as it requires the tester to travel to the location of the energy meter. Additionally, the testing process may take longer as the tester has to work around the building’s schedule by appointment.

Laboratory testing

Laboratory testing involves removing the energy meter from the building and transporting it to a laboratory for testing.

This method has several advantages:

Control

Laboratory testing provides more control over the testing environment. This means that environmental conditions can be carefully controlled, and higher accurate measurement equipment can be used.

Accuracy

Laboratory testing provides a more accurate representation of the energy meter’s performance, as the testing is conducted in a controlled environment with selectable load-points, power factors and harmonics injection. Also, it’s much easier to perform simple no-load-, starting- and register tests.

Efficiency

Laboratory testing itself is generally more efficient than on-site testing, as the testing process over multiple test steps can be completed more quickly and efficiently.

Laboratory testing also has some disadvantages:

Laboratory testing is more inconvenient than on-site testing, as it requires the removal of the energy meter from the building. This can result in disruptions to the energy supply and may require additional planning and coordination. Laboratory testing is generally more expensive than on-site testing, as it requires the transportation of the energy meter to a laboratory and may require additional fees for testing equipment and expertise.

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Takeaway

The decision to conduct on-site or laboratory testing depends on various factors, such as the type of energy meter, the purpose of testing, and the resources available.

On-site testing is generally more convenient and less expensive, but it may be limited by the availability of testing equipment and the technical expertise of the tester. Laboratory testing provides more control over the testing environment and more accurate results over the full range, but it is more expensive and less convenient.

Ultimately, the decision to conduct on-site or laboratory testing should be based on a careful assessment of the specific needs and requirements of the situation.

Our on-site testing equipment provides the convenience of testing the energy meter without disrupting the energy supply, while our laboratory equipment provides precise measurements in a controlled environment with predefined test plans.
Contact us today to learn more and improve your meter test efficiency.

08h00 New York | 12h00 GMT | 13h00 London | 14h00 Amsterdam | 14h00 Johannesburg | 16h00 Dubai | 17h30 New Delhi | 20h00 Singapore

60-minute session

With the rapid spike in electric vehicles (EVs) globally, the need for efficient and reliable charging infrastructure is becoming increasingly urgent.

According to the European EV Charging Infrastructure Masterplan, 6.8 million chargers must be in place by 2030. As a result, utilities are experiencing immense pressure to make essential upgrades to their transmission infrastructure and at the same time connect an ever-growing list of charging assets to the grid.

With the International Energy Agency reporting the average time to build clean energy infrastructure at over a decade, what can developers, EPCs and utilities do to collectively speed up the process across planning, design and construction to get assets up and running faster?

Join this live discussion to learn more about how connected construction solutions accelerate EV charging deployments.

EV charging experts and technologists will discuss how high-volume deployments can leverage the cloud to control costs and speed up deployments that span hundreds or thousands of distributed locations.

In this webinar, you will learn best practices to:

• Template work so you can complete projects more than 30% faster
• Centralise data in the cloud across all internal, field and vendor teams
• Introduce better communication across groups using real-time project and site data
• Automate construction approvals, reporting, and forecasting

Speakers

Sebastian Hymas, Head of Project Controls | Evyve Charging Network

Lynne Toogood, Chief Operating Officer | Connected Kerb

Mathieu Michel, Sales Engineer | Sitetracker

The 12th edition of the leading annual event for the flow battery community was a record-breaking success and concluded in Prague when Invinity Energy Systems invited the IFBF to hold the next edition in June 2024 in Scotland. To highlight the announcement, the Czech local supporter, Jiří Vrána from Pinflow handed the IFBF flag to Larry Zulch from Invinity Energy Systems.

From 27 – 29 June 2023 in Prague, the IFBF welcomed 300 attendees from around the world plus 50 connected online who convened to learn & share knowledge about flow batteries and foster valuable networking opportunities.

Over the three days, the conference managed to gather the entire flow battery community, with a heterogenous audience from industry, academia, and research, and featured talks, panel sessions, open discussions, an exhibition area, a poster session, networking activities and a local site visit to the old wastewater treatment plant in Prague.

EASE webinar recording:
Long-duration energy storage and decarbonising the industry

The attendees were able to hear the latest technological, market and political developments in the flow battery sector during the conference sessions and see brand-new innovations being showcased at the exhibition area. The rising number of flow battery installations around the world, and their growing importance in the energy storage sector were presented by the leading players in the market.

A wide range of students had the opportunity to present their latest research in a lively poster session competition which looked at inspiring research being undertaken in the field, contributing to bridging the gap between research and industry.

“The IFBF is unique in how it brings all players in the flow battery sector together from business leaders, policymakers, developers and researchers to discuss the thriving world of energy storage and the important role of flow batteries,’’ said Anthony Price, IFBF President.

In 2024 in Scotland, the conference will present again a format including a mix of presentations, networking, exhibition and site visits. All potential exhibitors and sponsors interested can find more information about these opportunities by writing to info@flowbatteryforum.com.

The International Flow Battery Forum (IFBF) is the leading annual event for the flow battery community, promoting the most recent developments in the science, technology and commercialisation of flow batteries.

For more information about the International Flow Battery Forum, please visit: https://flowbatteryforum.com/

10h00 EDT | 10h00 New York | 14h00 GMT | 15h00 London | 16h00 Amsterdam | 16h00 Johannesburg | 18h00 Dubai | 19h30 New Delhi | 22h00 Singapore

60-minute session

Utilities are evolving operating environments to keep up with new energy demands and a fast-changing technology landscape. Many are integrating utility-scale and residential distributed energy resources (DERs) into their electric grids at an unprecedented pace.

Meanwhile, the TDM technology they use for communications in IEDs such as relays and RTUs approaching end-of-life. In response to these changes, more and more utilities are turning to IEC 61850 to introduce automation and digitalization to their electric grids.

Join this live webinar to learn how IEC 61850 is revolutionizing the utility industry. Our panel will discuss the following IEC 61850 topics:
• Substation automation and control digitalization using IEC 61850
• Transitioning TDM-based substations to IEC 61850
• Building a communication infrastructure blueprint for IEC 61850 implementation

Speakers:

Prithpal Khajuria, Director – Energy & Industrial Sectors, Intel Corporation

Dominique Verhulst, Global Head of Utilities, Nokia

Hansen Chan, IP Networks Product Marketing, Nokia

The purpose of the pilot was to evaluate the viability of the LAISON smart STS prepaid water meter solution as well as to assess the technical capability and service delivery. The result indicates that The LAPIS System is very stable as no downtime was experienced during the pilot period hence reliable. The meters are effective in the management of historical debts and Non-Revenue Water.

LAISON’S pilot meters demonstrate strengths that are listed below:

1. Debt recovery

The meters are effective in recovering historical debts as they can be configured to partly deduct a preset portion of the purchased water until the debt is fully recovered while the customer gets water on part of the payment.

2. Meter accuracy

After four months of operation and the test results at the operational flow rates are as in the table below.

From the observation above, LAISON meters’ accuracy is within the allowable error limit during the pilot period.

3. Mode of payment

Proportionate tokens are sent directly to the clients hence necessitating the smooth self-service operation. This allows the customers to manage their consumption.

Read more news from LAISON

4. Data analytics

LAISON’s LAPIS system is configured with data analysis tools making it easier to track the consumption trends and identify the possible illegal activities around the meter point. The data below are for GPRS Pilot meters. It can also be mentioned that the meter has an automatic replenishing function. When the data fails to be reported, the meter will be actively reported again after 15 minutes.

A comparison of the consumption trend was done on the same accounts on mechanical meters and the pre-paid meters within the same period. One Meter indicated a great increase in consumption after installation with the prepaid meter.

The new units expand the spectrum of suitable applications and provide customers with increased options for power.

The systems, which have been designed with sustainability in mind, are suited to noise-sensitive environments, such as events, metropolitan construction sites, telecom, manufacturing, mining, oil and gas and rental applications, and enable operators to dramatically reduce their fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

The additions to Atlas Copco’s portfolio include a larger ZBC 300-300 unit and a smaller line of battery-based storage systems, the ZPB 45-60, ZBP 45-75, ZBP 15-60 models, and the ZBP 2000 with two flexible solar panels.

With a complete offer of ESS, users will now benefit from increased flexibility and versatility in their operations, with both stand-alone and hybrid solutions across their sites.

“Our customers are increasingly seeking clean energy solutions to be more sustainable and efficient in their operations,” explains Bárbara Gregorio, marketing manager Power & Energy at Atlas Copco’s Power and Flow Division.

Added Gregorio, “The move towards battery storage solutions is a natural evolution for us and we have continued to develop the ESS portfolio using the best battery technology for our targeted applications, making the benefits of clean power available to more applications and for new opportunities in our sector.”

These energy storage systems are ideal for applications with a high energy demand and variable load profiles, as they cover both low loads and peaks. For example, they can properly size cranes and other electric motors, and successfully manage peaks in energy demand for noise-sensitive events and for electric vehicles (EV) recharging stations.

Have you read?
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Furthermore, operators can synchronize several models, which can become the heart of any microgrid, storing and delivering energy coming from several energy sources, including renewables.

ZBP models, small and extra small energy storage systems

The small ZBP units – the ZPB 45-60, ZBP 45-75 and ZBP 15-60 – present a new design, are modular, mobile, and up to 70% lighter in weight than other battery systems, and so can easily be moved around site to provide clean and quiet energy where required.

They are ideal for applications such as events and telecom, and can work alone in island mode, or can be coupled with a diesel generator to provide a hybrid solution with significant energy savings.

The ZBP models are easy to use and install and have lower maintenance needs than a standalone diesel generator, which translates into a reduced total cost of ownership (TCO).

Featuring high-density Lithium-Ion batteries, these energy storage systems provide over 12 hours of power from a single charge, and they can be fully charged in less than one hour (depending on the model).

ZBP 2000 is a fully sustainable portable solution as it comes with two foldable solar panels which could be used to recharge the unit in great weather conditions or to maintain a proper battery level during less efficient production days.

It is suitable for small events and small construction sites, providing silent operation and zero emissions while working with solar energy. Up to five units can easily be joined in parallel to provide users with higher power levels of up to 10kW.

Compact and lightweight, with a footprint of 1m³, this unit is robust enough to withstand conditions typically found on construction sites. The ZBP 2000 energy storage system has IK09 impact resistance classification and an Ingress Protection rating of IP65, meaning it provides exceptional protection from dust and water, so users can be confident it provides excellent reliable performance in harsh environments.

Solid state battery innovation centre unveiled in Basque Country

ZBC 300-300 to complete the medium range of ESS

The ZBC 300-300 joins the ZBC 250-500 and ZBC 500-250 models to complete the medium range of ESS and is a 10ft container designed to meet the requirements for off- and on-grid applications, and is ideal in combination with renewable stations, providing up to 4,5MWh of storage capacity.

It is a scalable solution, as up to 16 units can be connected in parallel. Moreover, when operating in hybrid mode with a diesel generator, users can reduce daily fuel consumption by up to 90%, depending on the application.

During stand-alone operation, these energy storage systems offer no fuel consumption and no CO2 emissions, operating at less than 80 dB(A), while allowing users to increase the productivity of their core business by up to 50%.

ECO, the Energy Controller Optimizer

All Atlas Copco’s energy storage systems come with their own intelligence, the ECO Controller, which is a unique in-house designed and developed Energy Management System (EMS). With the introduction of this human-machine interface (HMI), operators will optimize energy generation, distribution, and consumption.

ECO, as the ‘brain’ of the energy storage system, communicates with all components including inverters, batteries, solar charge controllers and energy meters. The controller ensures consistent operations and optimal performance of the entire installation, therefore enabling operators to minimize downtime.

Atlas Copco’s ECO Controller provides performance data so customers can take any immediate corrective action, thereby increasing the lifetime of components and generators and the overall operational efficiency while reducing long-term costs.

Moreover, to enhance the electrification of certain sectors, Atlas Copco has launched its own fast charger for electric vehicles and heavy-duty machinery – the Z Charger. This new solution, which increases the charging rate by boosting the voltage, decarbonizes the recharging of battery-driven machinery and vehicles when working with an energy storage system.

Nokia has announced new, optimised Core network software solutions for the field and wide area network (FAN/WAN) needs of public safety and power utilities, expanding the portfolio range available to large, mission-critical enterprises and governments, and reflecting Nokia’s deeper push into driving continued leadership in private wireless.

Nokia Core Enterprise Solutions are based on the company’s widely deployed Core products and optimised to help enterprises take advantage of secure carrier grade capabilities and digitalise their network infrastructure to realise increased automation, productivity and efficiency.

The addressable market for Core networks solutions in the enterprise FAN/WAN private wireless communications space is expected to increase 50% and reach €1.5 billion by 2027 from approximately €1 billion today, according to Nokia estimates.

Nokia Core Enterprise Solutions are an integral component of Nokia’s private wireless solution and designed for enterprises and governments that have networking requirements similar to a communication service provider. These new solutions are tailored to the specific mission-critical network needs of public safety and power utilities, and include highly optimised footprint and operational requirements and streamlined deployment and support.

The solutions, expected to be commercially available later this year, provide unified 4G and 5G data, voice and subscriber/device management capabilities, and create streamlined adoption paths across technology and application generations. These include use of broadband-enhanced communication tools for public safety and the introduction of IoT in power utilities.

Ken Rehbehn, Principal Analyst at CritComm Insights, said: “A select set of government and business operations provides essential safety, energy and transportation functionality required for a safe society and robust economic growth. These organisations have a unique requirement for wide area wireless operations across sweeping geography with secure, ubiquitous and high-quality connectivity enabled by private 4G and 5G networks. Nokia’s pre-integrated, sector-optimised mission-critical core network solutions can reduce risk and help speed challenging wide area private network deployments.”

Resources and additional information
Nokia Core Enterprise Solutions
Nokia Core Enterprise Solution for Public Safety
Nokia Core Enterprise Solution for Power Utilities
Nokia 5G Core

About Nokia
At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together. As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs.

Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today – and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future.

Recognising the need to address these concerns, we’ve developed advanced network operations solutions for utilities. One of the key technologies driving this progress is Software Defined-WAN, which empowers and supports Distribution Automation in remarkable ways.

The goal of Distribution Automation in the Utility grid is a real-time adjustment to changing load conditions, facilitating distributed generation, performing fault location identification and service restoration, and reacting to failure conditions within the Distribution grid, usually without operator intervention.

Read our solution brief and get an overview of how to manage and optimise your industrial fixed and mobile networks using SD-WAN.

Capabilities include:

• Simplified management using a common management tool for your Enterprise and Industrial devices,
• Multi-WAN support for always-connected mobile use cases,
• Security policies are extended to the devices at your network edge,
• On-premise or cloud-hosted architectural flexibility,
• Scalable solution that allows thousands of assets to operate simultaneously, positioning the customer to meet future requirements

If you prefer a more technical perspective, we have also prepared a validated design document. This guide provides tested and documented approaches to help you successfully design, deploy, and extend SD-Wan for distribution automation.

You can select which content paper you want to download in the form below.

The cost of the energy consumed is deducted directly from the credit loaded, with the user receiving alerts when their credit is running low. The meter disconnects when all credit is used.

History of prepayment meters

Prepayment meters for electricity have been in use for over a century. The first prepayment meter was introduced in the year 1899 by the British company General Electric (GE). The device was called a ‘coin-in-slot’ meter, and it required customers to insert coins into the meter to pay for their electricity. This early prepayment meter was unreliable and subject to theft of coins, and was quickly replaced by more advanced models.

Throughout the 20th century, prepayment meters continued to be developed and improved with the use of different kinds of keys, tokens and card readers. All in common was a proprietary solution, owned by the manufacturers or utilities.

In the year 1997, the STS (Standard Transfer Specification) Association was formed as an international non-profit organisation with the objective of developing a global standard for prepay metering systems. The organisation was founded by a group of leading prepay meter manufacturers who recognised the need for a standardised communication protocol to enable interoperability between the different systems.

The STS is an international industry standard described in IEC 62055-41, -51 and -52.

The system is based on issuing 20-digit tokens. These tokens are generated in the individual utility security modules and are encrypted by the utility key. This makes the whole vending and token issuing system secure.

The STS protocol is used in more than 50 countries across the world and has been designed to ensure security and interoperability of prepayment solutions. The STS standard helps to ensure that prepayment energy meters are easy to install, maintain and use across different manufacturers, making it easier for consumers to switch between energy suppliers.

The advantages of prepayment meters

Prepayment energy meters have several advantages, both for the consumers and utilities. For consumers, prepayment meters can help them manage their energy costs by allowing them to pay for their electricity and gas in small instalments rather than receiving a large bill at the end of each month. This can be particularly beneficial for low income households or those on a tight budget, as it helps them to budget and avoid debt.

Another advantage is that prepayment meters encourage energy efficiency. With a prepayment meter, customers can see the cost of their energy usage in real-time, allowing them to adjust their behaviour in a way that helps them to use less energy and hence save money. This can lead to significant savings for the consumer as well as reduced energy consumption and carbon emissions.

For utilities, prepayment meters can be beneficial by reducing the cost of billing and customer service. This is because prepayment meters automate the billing process, meaning that utilities do not need to send as many personnel to read meters and produce bills. Overall, prepayment energy meters are an efficient and effective way to manage energy consumption and costs for both consumers and utilities.

Potential drawbacks

While prepayment electricity meters offer several benefits, there are also some drawbacks associated with their use. One of the main concerns is that prepayment meters can be more expensive to operate compared to traditional post-payment meters. This is because they require a communication network to facilitate the remote top-up of credit, as well as maintenance and management costs.

Another potential issue is that prepayment meters may decrease energy affordability for low income households. As prepayment meters require customers to pay for their energy upfront, those on tight budgets may be unable to pay for enough energy credit to keep their homes heated, lit or powered, leading to energy poverty.

Furthermore, prepayment meters have been criticised for lacking transparency in pricing, leading to increased energy costs for customers. Sometimes, suppliers charge higher rates for energy on prepayment tariffs than standard credit tariffs.

Overall, while prepayment energy meters offer benefits, there are potential drawbacks that must be carefully evaluated before implementation to ensure the affordability and fairness of the energy market for consumers

The main regions for prepay energy meters

Prepayment energy meters have become increasingly popular in many countries around the world. However, the exact number of countries using prepayment meters is not easily ascertainable, as there is limited published data on the subject.

In Europe, prepay meters are widely used in countries such as the UK and Ireland. They are also used in some Eastern European countries, such as Bulgaria and Romania. In Africa, prepay meters are widespread in countries like Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria, where they have been implemented to improve revenue collection and reduce energy theft.

In Asia, prepay meters are used in countries such as India, Indonesia and Malaysia. In Latin America, the use of prepay meters is increasing in countries like Mexico, Brazil and Argentina.

Overall, the use of prepayment energy meters has been growing rapidly in recent years due to their numerous benefits.

What is the future of prepay metering?

The future of prepayment energy meters is likely to be shaped by ongoing changes in the energy industry, including advances in smart grid technology and evolving customer expectations. One of the most significant advancements in prepayment meter technology is the integration of smart technology. Smart prepayment meters offer greater energy saving opportunities, with the introduction of more intelligent energy management systems that can automatically adjust energy consumption to optimise savings.

Another potential future development is the use of blockchain technology. Blockchain could enable consumers to purchase and transfer energy credits securely and without intermediaries, reducing costs and increasing transparency. There is also an increasing focus on improving the customer experience when it comes to prepayment meters. Utilities are developing services to enable customers to top up credit easily and conveniently, whether through mobile apps, smart speakers or other digital tools. This will improve customer satisfaction and also help to reduce operational costs for utilities.

Takeaway

Prepayment energy meters are likely to remain an important tool for utilities to encourage energy efficiency and manage revenue collection. While there are some challenges with the technology, there are likely to be on-going advancements in both prepayment energy meters themselves and in supporting technologies that make them even more effective and convenient for customers.

Our energy service platform CLOUESP has a module for online-vending, strictly working on the STS system, based on the latest edition. If you have not prepared your vending for the upcoming token identifier TID rollover, or if you are looking for an advanced system, it’s a good time to talk to us.

It is data that underpins this model. And it makes Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and one of its core building blocks, Meter Data Management (MDM), critical for a reliable, resilient future power system.

In part one of this series exploring the components of AMI, we looked at the Headend System. In part two, we’ll take a deep dive into the Meter Data Management system.

In this article we’ll explore:

• What the MDM system does within the AMI.
• How it benefits utilities.
• The key features to look for in your MDM system.
• How to take your MDM system to the next level.

Understanding MDM systems in the context of AMI

Smart meters have become a cornerstone of the energy system, but utilities are now faced with the task of managing and processing the enormous amount of data they generate.

An MDM system sits at the heart of the AMI, receiving, validating, storing and analysing this vast treasure trove of information. This data can then be used by other utility applications, including billing, customer information and grid operational management systems.

In fact, more and more utilities are realising that smart meter data can be used for more than efficiently producing highly accurate bills. MDM systems are now used to aggregate data from third-party sources such as weather information and with utility OT systems such as SCADA and Advanced Distribution Management systems.

Most MDM capabilities include:

• Centralised meter data storage and management, including data collection, monitoring and configuration management of smart meters and devices.
• Validation, estimating, editing (VEE) and workflow management.
• Billing register, calculation and export.
• Analytics and reporting, including management reports, load and demand forecasting and customer service KPI metrics.

MDM systems and smart meters evolve together

MDM systems began appearing in the late 1990s. As the number of smart meters increased and utilities began deploying AMI, they needed systems to manage the large amounts of data, events, and alarms that were being generated.

MDM systems soon developed to include analytics and reporting functions that could be integrated with, and utilised by, other utility operational systems. The primary focus for these systems was to automate and streamline the meter to cash process for billing. But as MDM systems continue to evolve, we’re finding more utilities realise their potential in managing all types of energy data. They are now used to receive data from multiple sources, both from within utility operations and externally.

With the addition of advanced analytics functions, MDM systems are becoming central to day-to-day operations. Utilities can more accurately track real-time usage, forecast supply and demand, manage non-technical losses, and run predictive maintenance, all helping operational teams to improve efficiency and the reliability of services delivered.

The benefits of a meter data management system

Looking at MDM capabilities, there are some clear benefits for utilities. These include:

• Improved data accuracy and efficiency: MDM systems streamline the collection of meter and meter operations data, by operating a single, central repository, instead of separate, inconsistently managed systems. Utilities can apply specific validation rules to ensure that incoming data is consistent and accurate before it is stored.

• Improved efficiency: MDM systems streamline billing and customer service. But once integrated with other utility systems such as Advanced Distribution Management, Mobile Workforce Management and Geographic Information systems, utilities can generate actionable insights for proactive and preventative maintenance, helping to improve operations and ensuring their customers have a reliable energy supply.

• Improved insights leading to better decision-making: Better data accuracy leads to improved decision making and enforceable processes. Reliable energy data provides agents with more granular and timely information to resolve customer inquiries quickly.

• Reduced risk: MDM systems reduce risks from manual processes and inaccurate data. But they can also support utilities in meeting regulatory requirements. For example, utilities can set specific data retention periods and data deletion processes to meet local data privacy laws.

Meter data management and the energy transition

In addition to these benefits, MDM systems have massive potential in helping utilities adapt to our evolving energy model. They play a critical role in unlocking insights from AMI data, insights that enable the smooth running of a decentralized system, powered by renewables and where data sharing is becoming standard practice.

To achieve this, utilities are enriching AMI data with data from other sources. This includes, operational data, and data from external sources such as distributed energy resources, market data and customer demographics.

With additional integration capabilities, MDM can not only help utilities become more efficient, but enables them to accelerate the shift to renewables, operate in a decentralized energy system and compete in an increasingly competitive environment.

Here are some examples:

Demand response programmes: Enriching real-time consumption data with distributed energy resource information in real time.

Improving grid flexibility and resilience: MDM systems can provide real-time data on renewable energy, together with load forecasting information helping utilities to balance the grid.

Creating a competitive advantage: Data from MDM systems can give detailed information about customer energy usage and cost saving insights in real time. This can be used to develop innovative customer services and products.

Data sharing: As many markets shift to a system of open consumption data, MDM can help utilities share this information with their customers and partners, market operators, regulators, or other market participants.

Features to include in a future-focused MDM system

Looking at these capabilities and benefits, it’s easy to see the opportunities. But in our experience, to really harness its potential, your meter data management system needs to include certain features.

Real-time analytics

• In the new energy model, utilities need insights from generation and consumption data in as close to real-time as possible. Your solution must be able to integrate with analytics-based solutions.
• With a cloud-based solution, you can access advanced analytics including machine learning and predictive analytics.
• Event-driven architecture helps MDM systems handle the millions of messages produced by smart meters and IoT devices. It enables them to react to events and process data as it is generated.

Scalability

• Energy data is proliferating. The number of smart meters across the world continues to grow and their data is now needed at a more granular level with many regions moving to intervals of 15 minutes or under. This means volumes of smart meter data gathered by AMI are only going to increase.
• It’s not just smart meter data that’s growing. MDM systems now need to receive data from an increasing number of data sources. To help manage fluctuating meter and distributed energy generation data, today’s MDMs must be scalable.
• Cloud-native deployment means you can scale computing resources up or down depending on the volume of data your MDM system needs to receive. It also enables services like auto-scaling for peak loads.

Flexibility

• The grid is becoming smarter. New grid edge technologies are paving the way for innovative business models. As more intelligent devices are developed and become widely used, MDMs must accommodate the data they generate, both now and in the future.
• The more diverse the data points, the more useful and valuable utility data becomes. But as the number of data sources proliferate, MDMs must support flexible system and data integration.
• Cloud-native technologies such as microservices help you achieve this flexibility through loose coupling and a modular approach. New data sources and systems can be integrated or replaced independently without affecting other components.
• Open APIs offer flexibility and enable utilities to continuously add new capabilities and functionality.

Data sharing

• Data sharing is becoming standard practice as more energy markets move to an unbundled system. It’s also vital for a system that increasingly depends on distributed energy resources.
• Enriching smart meter data with other data sources paves the way for innovation and new services for customers.
• MDM systems help data sharing both within the organisation and with external partners, but interoperability is key.
• Interoperability depends on API integration between the MDM and diverse destinations that rely on meter data and for external data streams that the MDM receives.

Taking meter data management to the next level: MDM+

An MDM offers huge benefits to utilities, but as the number of data sources increase, integration becomes a major challenge. The solution that we recommend to utilities and system integrators is to add an integration layer. We call this MDM+. Our customers find this helps them manage and monitor their systems and data exchange across the entire AMI landscape. By providing standardised interfaces, protocols and unifying data formats, it enables smooth and seamless integration across the entire value chain.

The integration layer can help to deliver the features needed in a future-fit MDM system. It brings flexibility and scalability. It offers integration to advanced analytics, enabling real-time and actionable insights. It enables the connectivity, collaboration and data sharing that is becoming essential to our new energy system. It can handle the integrations between the utility MDM system and Market Communications or regional data hubs.

But in this highly specialised environment, using a domain-specific integration solution makes the process faster and more streamlined. Greenbird’s Utilihive iPaaS is purpose-built for the energy sector which means you can rapidly implement a future-focused MDM system.

Utilihive has pre-built, utility-specific building blocks and integration accelerators. You can skip the time-consuming task of writing custom code and building orchestrations or APIs. Instead, you can get on with diversifying your data points, enriching your utility’s data to drive innovative new services and the possibility of integrating machine learning functionalities and other data analytics-based solutions.

The energy transition is accelerating. It’s success rests on the transformation of utilities to data-driven organisations. Now is the time to lay the digital foundations that can support utilities on this journey. Foundations that can support change, growth, and the development of new business models.

About Greenbird

Greenbird is an international solution and technology company with roots in Norway. We simplify the complexity of big data integration to help organisations unlock the value of their data and mission critical applications. Our flagship innovation, Utilihive, is a cloud-native platform combining enterprise integration capabilities with a data lake optimised for energy use cases. We founded Greenbird in 2010 with a mission to revolutionise how the energy industry thinks about enterprise system integration. Today, Utilihive is used by utilities across Europe, Middle East and Asia serving more than 50 million consumers. Greenbird is headquartered in Oslo and has around 50 employees, comprising primarily of senior developers and consultants and specialising in technology development and customer onboarding of the Utilihive platform. To learn how you can unleash the value of data while removing silos, explore Utilihive accelerators here.

At the Enlit Africa event in South Africa in May 2023, I seized the opportunity to engage with industry leaders and discuss strategies for preventing cable theft. The exchange of ideas and collaboration among attendees at the conference served as a valuable platform for progress in combatting cable theft and protecting critical infrastructure.

Copper is a valuable metal that is widely used in various industries due to its unique properties, including high electrical conductivity and corrosion resistance. As the demand for copper increases globally, the incidence of cable theft has also risen, resulting in significant economic losses and disruptions to critical infrastructure in various countries worldwide.

Global overview of cable theft

Cable theft refers to the act of stealing copper or aluminium cables or wires from various locations, including construction sites, railway tracks, telecommunications networks and power grids. This form of theft has become a global problem due to the increasing demand for copper and other metals, which has led to rising prices and the temptation for thieves to steal cables for resale.

The types of cables targeted by thieves include power cables, telecommunication cables, railway signalling cables and other cables that contain copper or other valuable metals. The cables are typically stripped of their insulation and then sold to scrap dealers, who will then sell the copper to smelters or exporters.

The global trends in cable theft indicate that this problem is on the rise, particularly in developing countries where security measures are less effective. In some countries, cable theft has become a serious threat to public safety and national security, as it can disrupt critical infrastructure. These disruptions can cause significant economic losses for businesses and governments and may also threaten public safety.

South Africa is considered one of the hardest-hit countries concerning cable theft. The widespread nature of the problem has had an enormous impact on the country’s infrastructure. With the simultaneous increase in electricity prices, businesses and consumers have had to pay more for their power, further exacerbating the problem. The South African government has implemented stringent measures to combat cable theft, including the establishment of a committee to reduce copper theft.

The estimated loss due to cable theft in South Africa is between $280 million and $370 million per year.

In India, cable theft has become a significant concern in recent years. The country’s rail authorities have been reporting a rise in cable theft incidents, resulting in significant economic losses. In 2018 alone, Indian Railways lost almost $33 million due to cable theft. The problem is particularly prevalent in urban areas, where thieves target overhead power lines and transformer stations. The Indian government has placed increased security measures and monitoring systems throughout the country to improve oversight and reduce theft rates.

The estimated loss due to cable theft in India is between $1.3 billion and $1.9 billion per year.

In the United Kingdom, cable theft is also a persistent challenge. The London Underground has been particularly affected, with thieves targeting transport infrastructure. In 2011, the UK government passed laws to deter cable theft, including making cash payments for scrap metal illegal and granting increased powers to the police to investigate theft incidents. Despite such measures, cable theft incidents still occur regularly and continue to impact the country’s energy infrastructure.

The estimated loss due to cable theft in the United Kingdom is between $620 million and $840 million per year.

In Australia, the National Copper Theft Taskforce was established in 2012 to coordinate with various organisations to reduce the incidence of cable theft in the country’s electrical and telecommunication networks. The task force has reportedly contributed to reductions in copper theft levels, although challenges remain in remote areas where theft cases continue to occur frequently.

There is no official estimate of the loss due to cable theft in Australia. However, a 2019 report by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) estimated that the cost of replacing stolen telecommunications cables was $10 million per year. This does not include the cost of lost productivity, damage to property, or other indirect costs.

Cable theft is also a problem in the United States, resulting in significant economic losses and disruptions to essential services such as electricity and telecommunications. The problem is particularly prevalent in urban areas, where thieves target underground cables and transformer stations. The causes of cable theft in the US are similar to those in other countries, with the high demand for copper and the high prices offered by scrap dealers driving the theft of cables. In addition, the US has also experienced an increase in the theft of catalytic converters, which contain valuable metals including platinum and palladium.

The estimated loss due to cable theft in the United States is between $1.5 billion and $2 billion per year. This includes the cost of replacing stolen cables, the cost of lost productivity, and the cost of damage to property.

The causes of cable theft in Brazil are similar to those in other countries. In addition, the country’s rapidly growing economy has led to an increase in the demand for electricity and telecommunications services, creating additional opportunities for cable thieves. The impacts of cable theft in Brazil are significant, with the country experiencing frequent power outages and disruptions to telecommunications services. In addition to the economic losses caused by these disruptions, cable theft has also resulted in increased crime rates, as criminals take advantage of the power outages to commit crimes.

In 2021, there were over 100,000 incidents of cable theft reported to the ABRATEL (Brazilian Association of Telecommunications Companies). This is a huge increase from the 50,000 incidents reported in 2015. The estimated loss due to cable theft in Brazil is between $120 million and $240 million per year.

Takeaway

Cable theft is a big problem that affects many communities worldwide. Criminals often target cables carrying electricity, telecommunications and transportation signals to make quick profits by selling them for scrap metal. These thefts can result in severe consequences, including power outages, communication disruptions and transportation delays. In some cases, cable theft has led to injury or death due to the interruption of critical services.

Governments and companies continue to implement measures to combat this issue, such as surveillance cameras, increased security and improved cable designs. However, cable theft remains a persistent problem that requires ongoing attention and action.

Clou Xmart distribution software is a powerful tool that can help utilities to optimise their networks and identify areas that are more prone to theft. This information can be used to deploy security measures, such as increased patrols or security cameras in areas that are at higher risk. If you are looking for a way to improve the security, efficiency, and customer satisfaction of your energy grid, then Clou Smart distribution management is the solution for you. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you.

Author: Reinhard Guenther, Product Director, Clouglobal.

Indeed, over the past few years most water meter manufacturers have started to move away from smart card technology and adopt the Standard Transfer Specification (STS) technology, which supports mobile payment platforms like M-Pesa, MTN, or Airtel and may be more easily recharged with a 20 digit token.

Moreover, without a physical card to transfer the data, STS prepaid water meters may more easily integrate remote communication technologies such as LoRa/LoRaWAN, NB-IoT, GPRS or Bluetooth, etc., collectively named Internet of Things (IoT) communication, which enables bi-communication capability.

There is no standard definition of the difference between smart prepaid water meters and regular prepaid water meters. The consensus of the industry can be summarised as follows.

First, the digital metering technology, which is based on sensing, will be more accurate compared to the conventional metering.

Second, the smart water meters must have the function of bi-communication enabling uploading of billing data and alarm events, etc. through either a walk-by system or fixed network.

Third, the smart water meters must have leakage and by-pass detection features, etc., which are not necessary functions for normal STS prepaid water meters. Other functions like stepped tariffs, anti-tamper, pressure and temperature measurement are also frequently mentioned as features of smart water meters, but none are as important as IoT communication for two-way data transmission.

So why must smart water meters must have bi-communication as the most important feature? As is well known, the biggest challenges for African water utilities are the high non-revenue water (NRW) and the delay on bill payments. The STS prepaid water meter effectively improves the efficiency of bill collection, as without the IoT remote communication, the idea of decreasing the NRW through data management and analysis is not feasible.

There is a misunderstanding that remote data collection is only for replacing the meter reader, but this is not necessary in Africa as labour costs are very low and people need more job opportunities. On the contrary, data collection is the basis for improving management and creates more valuable jobs. It is only through the MDMS (Meter Data Management System) and IoT communication that water companies can collect the hourly or daily consumption data, which can be used to analyse abnormal events and detect leakage points quickly to which skilled workers can then go to fix the problems.

The IoT remote communication also provides the possibility for online monitoring of pipe network pressure, abnormal users with non consumption and huge night flow, etc.

After the installation of the prepaid water meters, the financial department will encounter challenges with the revenue and the consumption having a time difference as the prepaid water meter has a balance, which is effectively a stock of water. Thus, the financial department is the one that most quickly requests the billing data readings for analysis of financial indices such as gross profit, etc.

Water companies are very concerned about the cost difference between regular prepaid water meters and smart water meters, but this depends on the strategy of the manufacturers. For example, Tesla vehicles are fitted with all features, which can be activated through the configuration. Similarly LAISON Parise series prepaid water meters have all smart features by default.

Depending on the different IoT technologies, the smart metering system requires some additional devices to enable remote data transmission, such as LoRa Data Concentrator Unit, LoRaWAN gateway or NBIoT/GPRS SIM card, etc. This communication equipment is used to collect data from multiple meters, with typically 200 to 300 smart meters sharing one DCU within a range of radius above 0.5km, so the cost is favourable compared to the benefits.

Upgrading prepaid water meter solutions to smart metering systems with a DCU/gateway and MDMS is a smart choice for water companies and a trend of the times.

Author: Mr. Raymond Zheng, managing director of LAISON, email: laisontech@gmail.com

CEO Logan Moodley revealed their latest innovation in prepaid and smart meters, noting they relied on “solutions that have been tried and testedon the African continent” as he launched their single phase smart meter, iDM APEX 1 and a three phase variant, the iDM APEX 3.

He also introduced another first for the company – a digital assistant aimed directly at customers. Looking to the future, Conlog asked what happens next when the traditional customer user interface becomes a thing of the past. CoDi, a digital platform for customers to buy prepaid tokens for water, electricity and gas and interact with the company’s experts for support via WhatsApp, is a downloadable app.

“We have to consider the future and the future speaks to how do we create exceptional convenience for our customers,” said Moodley.

The smart meter company started working on the new smart meter product four years ago, drawing on African specifications through a collaboration with partners such as the Association of Power Utilities of Africa (APUA) and the African Electrotechnical Standardisation Commission (AFSEC) “that supported design and specification challenges and meeting requirements.”

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Smart meter features range of forward looking functions

The new meters offer the next level in interoperability, are highly scalable and come with integrated cellular WAN connectivity to NB-IoT/5G/4G/3G/2G which make them adaptable to a range of countries with varying technical specifications on the grids.

Smart functionality include both prepaid and post paid modes, with meters able to be currency or unit based.  Since the meters are able to handle time of use or step tariffs, they would be useful in wheeling situations.

The ability to handle demand management principles such as intelligent load limiting, intelligent loadshedding and emergency or scheduled demand response open up a range of options.

The meters also provide next level revenue protection measures with advanced tamper detection capabilities.

Speaking at the launch Abel Tella, APUA secretary general said the association was pleased by the launch of this particular meter “because of APUA’s support of local production in Africa.”

“We are very proud of your achievement,” he told Moodley as he presented the company with a plaque commemorating their accomplishments.

Originally published on ESI-Africa.

Over the last year, teams from the two companies have worked intensively together, combining their respective expertise. The focus was to simplify system integration and data management for specific clients in Switzerland. These efforts have already delivered successes in the first joint client cases.

The partnership will help to advance this collaboration to the next level. Open Web Technology will combine Greenbird’s Utilihive Platform with its own digital transformation expertise. This will enable Open Web Technology to deliver the most modern and flexible integration platform, customised and tailored for Swiss utilities.

The Electricity Supply Ordinance (OApEl) requires Swiss distribution system operators (DSOs) to replace 80% of their metering points with smart meter technology. But as digital transformation gains momentum, there’s a pressing need for the Swiss DSOs to evaluate their IT and OT systems. They must ensure their infrastructure is fit for purpose and can handle the changes and uncertainties that lie ahead.

Open Web Technology is well known for its experience in the Swiss market, its proven methodologies for designing and implementing digital solutions and its expertise in managing complex long-term projects. The partnership with Greenbird will unlock new opportunities to meet client and market needs by developing tailor-made solutions using state-of-the-art technologies.

“We are combining the best of both companies to offer our customers the most modern, flexible integration platform on the market. By leveraging Greenbird’s Utilihive platform we can help our customers meet new regulatory obligations, manage big data more efficiently and accelerate time to value. By using Utilihive, Swiss utilities can simplify their digital transformation,” said Cédric Debrunner, Partner and Head of sales at Open Web Technology in charge of the partnership.

Greenbird and Open Web Technology share a common vision of providing innovative solutions to the energy sector that will help drive the transition to a sustainable energy future.

“We are excited to partner with Open Web Technology to offer a unique proposition in the Swiss energy market. Combining our Utilihive energy-ready integration platform with Open Web Technology’s digital expertise will enable them to deliver a fully integrated, client-focused solution,” said Bianca van Effrink, VP International Business Development at Greenbird Integration Technology.

About Greenbird Integration Technology

Greenbird is an international solution and technology company with roots in Norway. We simplify the complexity of big data integration to help organisations unlock the value of their data and mission critical applications. Our flagship innovation, Utilihive, is a cloud-native platform combining enterprise integration capabilities with a data lake optimised for energy use cases. We founded Greenbird in 2010 with a mission to revolutionise how the energy industry thinks about enterprise system integration. Today, Utilihive is used by more than 230 utilities across Europe, Middle East and Asia serving more than 50 million consumers.

Greenbird is headquartered in Oslo and has around 50 employees, comprising primarily of senior developers and consultants and specialising in technology development and customer onboarding of the Utilihive platform. To learn how you can unleash the value of data while removing silos, explore more at www.greenbird.com.

About Open Web Technology

Open Web Technology (OWT), since 2016 part of the Swisscom group leading IT solutions and services in Switzerland, is a technology and strategy consulting firm. We help our clients leverage new technologies to reshape their business, invent new products, or transform their organization.

With remarkable growth every year, we are a team of over 200 seasoned industry experts, technology specialists and creative innovators. In our cross-functional project teams, we combine these diverse capabilities to serve our clients with passion, integrity and honesty. www.openwt.com

The white paper, On Electric Power Communication All-Optical Network Architecture and technologies, was released yesterday at the Huawei Sub-Saharan Africa Electric Power Summit, which formed part of Enlit Africa 2023 in Cape Town, South Africa.

The paper underlines how the power communication network is the basis for automatic power grid dispatching, market-oriented network operations and modernised management.

Such a network, it states, is an important means to ensure secure, stable and economical operations of the power grid as well as the core infrastructure of the power system.

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The white paper further describes how to build an intelligent optical base for power communication networks based on the all-optical architecture. It also aims to help the electric power industry cope with digital challenges, meet technical requirements for digital transformation and accelerate digital transformation.

Edwin Diender, chief innovation officer of the Global Electric Power Digitalisation Business Unit for Huawei Technologies, stated how “energy transition and digital technology combined are able to drive us towards carbon neutrality.

“We want to leverage our experience in the world wide web of communications into a world wide web of energy.”

According to Diender, achieving that will require a mindset shift from many players in the energy sector.

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“Where having a smart grid is often the end-stage for the energy industry and electric power companies, we see much more potential…With such aspiration, the informatisation of the power grid becomes more significant, more meaningful. And this digital journey will lead to more sustainable future power systems.”

Diender added that utilities need to embrace that digital transformation is an ongoing journey that can’t be achieved as a one-off project or by adopting specific technologies.

That journey starts with digitisation (eg. the switching from analogue to digital meters), moves on to digitalisation (building a network of smart meters), and ultimately results in full digital transmission, which he states might look like having full digital twins of every meter on the grid.

According to Victor Guo, President of Huawei Sub-Saharan Africa Enterprise Business Group, digital technologies are vital to leading the transition to a more sustainable energy sector.

”Using the expertise it’s gained from more than three decades in the communication sector, he added, Huawei ideally placed to “pave a digital way to a global energy transition.”

60-minute session

Join this recorded discussion to learn from Nokia’s experiences in designing mission-critical private wireless networks for power utilities worldwide. Our panel of experts discuss use cases, spectrum and devices for utility private wireless networks, along with technology evolution and approaches for building resilient, future-proof private LTE/5G RAN solutions.

The panel also provide insights on key topics such as:

• How to plan a private wireless network to ensure sufficient coverage and capacity for utility use cases
• How to select, handle and optimise site and battery configurations for different site types
• The pros and cons of multi-sector sites and small cell site alternatives.

We look forward to sharing what we’ve learned about how a well-designed private wireless solution can help you build a smarter grid, reach your net-zero goals and support new business models.

Speakers:

Dr. Ali Shah, Head Business Development | Nokia

Hemant Relan, Radio Solutions Manager | Nokia

Dave Chapman, Services Solutions Manager | Nokia

Utilihive M3 utilizes integration capabilities of the Utilihive platform, with market-specific rules, configurations and process flows that communicate to various mission-critical and market communication systems to manage the end-to-end message exchange for deregulated energy markets.

More news from Greenbird

Cloud-based software with the right analytics capabilities will allow your company to maintain profitability, and improve transparency, efficiency, and compliance. But where do you start?

Sustainability practices for utilities companies

Download the Oxford Economics report below, Sustainability in Oil, Gas, Energy, and Utilities, to learn how you can start integrating sustainability practices into your overall business and technology implementation, and see improved outcomes in business performance and brand reputation.

This report shows how technology can:

• Deliver safe, reliable, and sustainable energy solutions and automate essential workflows while staying within budget
• Increase transparency across the board using IoT and data management processes
• Leverage actionable insights from real-time data to optimise resources from financial capital to skilled workers

SAP is ready to help utility leaders like you keep your business profitable while managing the transition to a more sustainable future.

Long-duration energy storage has an important role to play in the decarbonisation of the energy sector, especially if we wish to reach the Green Deal and RePowerEU goals.

The rising share of renewables in the power mix brings with it new challenges, not least of these are the structural strains on existing power-generation, transmission, and distribution infrastructure.

Hosted by Smart Energy International and Power Engineering International in collaboration with The European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE), experts address:

• Technologies such as pumped hydro, redox flow batteries, metal-air batteries and mechanical storage technologies with a special focus on thermal energy storage.
• Solutions to supply and demand or changes in transmission flow patterns

Moderator: Patrick Clerens, Secretary General, EASE

Speakers:
Lidia Aviles, Founder, AELSTONE 
Lorena Skiljan, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Nobilegroup
Bjarke Buchbjerg, Chief Technology Officer, Kyoto Group AS
Dr. Robert Pfab, Chief Operating Officer, Carbon-Clean Technologies GmbH

In today’s digitally-driven world, power quality is more important than ever before. Most electrical and electronic equipment in industries, offices, and homes require high-quality power to function correctly. The efficiency and productivity of equipment depend heavily on power quality.

Poor power quality leads to increased downtime, more fault conditions, and, in some cases, complete equipment failure. In addition, machines that rely on high-quality power run more efficiently, reduce energy waste, and decrease the risk of equipment damage, resulting in a significant reduction of operating costs.

What are the main factors that impact power quality?

The measure of electrical power’s capacity to meet the requirements of the devices, is influenced by multiple factors. Here are some of the significant factors:

Voltage Level
Many electronic devices work within a specific voltage range. Variations in the voltage level can cause the equipment to malfunction and cause power quality problems. Low voltages, for instance, can lead to reduced efficiency, and equipment damage, whereas high voltages can cause overheating and even equipment failure.

Unbalanced Voltage
Unbalanced voltage is a power quality issue where the three phases of a three-phase power system have different magnitudes, creating an asymmetrical waveform. This asymmetry can be caused by unbalanced loads, faulty connections, or phase-to-ground faults.
Unequal voltage levels in different phases of the system can cause unbalanced current flow, leading to overheating of equipment and reduced operating efficiency. Negative or zero-sequence components in the voltage waveform can lead to ground fault current flow, causing damage to equipment and creating safety hazards.

Voltage Sag
Voltage sag or dip is a temporary reduction of voltage below the normal level that lasts for a few cycles to a few seconds. It is caused by a sudden increase in load, a voltage drop in the power grid, or a fault in the system.

Voltage Swell
Voltage swell is a temporary increase in voltage above the normal level that lasts for a few cycles to a few seconds. It is caused by sudden changes in load or when a fault on the system is cleared.

Voltage Interruption
Voltage interruption is a complete loss of voltage for a short period of time. It can be caused by a fault in the distribution system or by lightning strikes, and it can last from a few milliseconds to a few minutes. This interruption can cause equipment to shut down or reset, causing damage or data loss.

Flicker
A flicker is a momentary or sustained variation of voltage characterized by rapid changes in magnitude. It is caused by sudden changes in load, such as the starting of large motors, or by the operation of certain power system equipment like arc furnaces, welding machines, or large drives. The variation in voltage can cause lighting to flicker, which can be noticeable and annoying to occupants. Flicker events are measured by their frequency and depth, and they can impact the performance and lifetime of electronic equipment.

Electrical interference
Interference occurs when noises from other sources, such as other electrical systems, power lines, or even radio transmissions, get mixed in with the electrical signal. Electrical noise can result in signal degradation that can interfere with the equipment’s functioning.

Lack of grounding
Grounding refers to connecting an electrical circuit to the earth. This helps ensure stability, reduce noise and interference, and prevent shocks from electrostatic buildup. Without proper grounding, sensitive electronic equipment can malfunction or become damaged.

Harmonics
Harmonics are higher-frequency electrical signals that contaminate the power delivered by utilities to businesses and homes. Electronic devices with nonlinear loads produce harmonics that can interfere with distribution equipment’s operation and cause damage to electrical equipment.

Power Factor
Power Factor (cosφ) is the relation between apparent power and active power. Inefficient systems tend to have more apparent power than active power, leading to wastage of energy and possibilities of equipment damages.

Transients
Transients refer to sudden and brief fluctuations in voltage or current that occur over a short period of time. They can be caused by events such as lightning strikes, switching operations, or faults in the power system. Transients can range from a few microseconds to several milliseconds in duration, and they can have a significant impact on the operation and reliability of electrical systems and equipment.
Transient voltage surge suppressors, surge protective devices, and other protective measures can be implemented to limit the effects of transients on electrical systems and equipment.

How to tackle power quality problems?

There are several ways to overcome power quality problems. Some of the common solutions are:

Conduct a power quality analysis
The first step to overcome power quality problems is to conduct a power quality analysis. This involves measuring power quality parameters such as voltage, current, frequency, and harmonics to identify any adverse power quality events.

Implement voltage regulation
Installing voltage regulation equipment, such as voltage regulators, stabilizers or transformers, can help regulate voltage fluctuations and maintain a stable power supply.

Use power conditioning equipment
Power conditioners, such as surge protectors, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), and harmonic filters can help to mitigate the effects of power quality issues.

Use high-quality electrical equipment
Using high-quality electrical equipment, such as motors, transformers, and inverters, can reduce the occurrence of power quality problems.

Improve grounding and bonding
Proper grounding and bonding of electrical systems can help to eliminate ground loops and reduce noise and interference.

Train personnel
Training personnel on power quality issues and how to troubleshoot electrical equipment can help to identify and resolve power quality problems quickly.

Work with a power quality specialist
Consulting with a power quality specialist can help to identify potential power quality problems and provide recommendations for resolving them. Overall, overcoming power quality problems requires a multifaceted approach that includes identifying the root cause of the problem and implementing appropriate corrective measures.

Read more news from Shenzhen Clou

Takeaway

Power quality refers to the level of consistency, reliability, and stability of electrical power. It is important because any deviation from the expected levels of power quality can cause negative consequences such as equipment damage or malfunction, system shutdown, and data loss. Poor power quality can also lead to lower operational efficiency and higher maintenance costs.

Understanding power quality issues and taking measures to maintain good quality power is crucial to ensuring sustainable, safe, and efficient utilization of electrical systems and equipment. Our advanced energy meters, AMI-solutions and test equipment can point you in the right direction. Contact us for specific questions.