Modules

Rapid IoT Development Kit: Smart Meter and Smart Grid Prototyping

January 8, 2020

Telit’s Rapid IoT Development Kit: Your Solution for Prototyping Smart Meters and Smart Grid Devices 

Smart meters allow utility providers to deploy optimal solutions for energy distribution. These IoT-enabled devices have become an integral part of developing city-wide smart grid systems across the U.S., Great Britain and other smart-solution savvy countries. Smart meter initiatives also provide companies with the opportunity to educate consumers about their energy usage decisions, cutting down the need for service calls.

Telit Rapid Prototyping Smart Grid Smart Metering

The energy market is ready for the rapid deployment of Internet of Things (IoT) prototyping technologies designed to take smart metering and smart grid devices to the masses. IoT will enable real-time solutions, provide new opportunities for consumer education, and hasten the deployment of energy-saving sensor technologies.

By 2021, more than 1.1 billion smart meters will be rolled out as part of a global IoT initiative. With so many applications for smart metering solutions right around the corner, it is crucial that evaluating and testing IoT communication modules in meter prototypes be quick and easy. Rapid IoT prototyping streamlines device development and hastens testing by using preprepared kits that are compatible with a variety of technologies. 


Shortcomings of Traditional Metering 

As municipal utility systems have grown more complex, traditional metering solutions have consistently proven inadequate for three big reasons:

Traditional metering is inaccurate. Mechanical meters require servicing up to two times per year. Their mechanisms are prone to malfunctions or slowing down and halting of functionality. These problems result in more service calls and misrepresentative monthly billing averages that can become costly to both consumers and distributors alike.

Traditional metering is fraught with human error. Difficult locations, property mishaps, and angry customers and their pets can all be impediments to collecting accurate readings. Service technicians shouldn’t feel rushed or in danger. All these potential problems create situations in which the technician cannot be diligent.

Traditional meters cause a slow response time during outages. When the power in a neighborhood or home goes out, a technician must perform an onsite visual inspection and determine the root of the issue. Many transformer problems can take several hours to identify and repair, leaving homeowners and city workers powerless. 


The Benefits of Going Smart  

Smart IoT technology will reduce the hassle of service calls, cut down on power failures, generate automated utility reports and billing, and create a more efficient network of energy solutions.

Existing power grids put a strain on resources and are often ill-equipped to handle massive outages from damaging weather or harsh conditions. The smart grid is part of the IoT framework that monitors and manages everything from “lighting, traffic signs, traffic congestion, parking spaces, road warnings and early detection of things like power influxes as the result of earthquakes and extreme weather.” 

Smart grid equipment and smart meters will allow customers and energy companies to efficiently monitor temperature, usage specifications, gas, electric, water, and other readouts. Real-time adjustments made through cellular connections will provide users more ways to save money while away from home and give utility companies better solutions for saving energy and making fair decisions based on reliable data.

Smart grid technology is the most sustainable solution available in the face of rising fuel costs, environmental concerns, and a rise in natural disasters, such as hurricanes. Smart grids are designed to meet the demands of the modern world by keeping costs low for consumers and saving on resources for distributors through more efficient solutions and visibility. IoT smart meter and smart grid technology benefits include: 

  • Smarter energy use and reduced consumption
  • Real-time decision making regarding energy distribution
  • Cleaner energy by rerouting to green technologies, such as solar, wind, and feeder automation
  • Lower costs through more efficient source rerouting (by as much as 5 to 15% of total energy costs)
  • Emergency response (power shut-off and restoration)
  • Waste and water management through the aid of timers
  • Energy enablement in developing countries and sparsely populated areas

     

Rapid Prototyping for Smart Grid and Smart Metering with Telit 

You can bypass provisioning cycle delays in one easy sweep. Telit evaluation kits provide all-inclusive, true plug-and-play modules for all your IoT needs. Simply choose your carrier and connect to advanced 4G LTE low-power wide-area (LPWA) networks while also taking advantage of advanced location technology.  

At Telit, we take ideas to production — fast and easy. Telit is a global leader in IoT development. Along with over a thousand of the world’s leading IoT experts, we share a relentless commitment to delivering the future of digital businesses for consumers and industries worldwide. Transform your business today.  

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