With extensive smart meter deployments across the globe, the energy segment is going through an active transformation. Enablement of a smarter grid infrastructure facilitates a bi-directional flow of energy and data; however, it comes with added cost and complexity. The technical and economic challenge of every installed meter directly communicating with utility servers makes the solution unpractical. To optimize the compound network of these advanced systems, automation of the core components is essential.
Meters deployments can be broadly classified into two types of networks – Neighborhood Area Network (NAN) and Wide Area Network (WAN). Both of these networks are enabled by using a diverse communication protocol. An automated metering infrastructure can be enabled through a data concentrator. These aggregators aid in data communication between meters and energy service providers.
Data concentrators are a critical node in this automated network, they securely aggregate data from a manageable number of meters and relay the information to the centralized utility servers. Meters record user electricity consumption at regular intervals and provide this data to the utility provider.
The frequency of this data feedback ranges from an hourly feedback meter to real-time meters with a built-in two-way communication structure. These systems could have the capability of recording and transmitting instantaneous information. The recorded data provides more information on the load of the various end points that are actively consuming energy.
Not only can this information be used by the utility providers for billing services, but this could also be leveraged to improve customer relationship through enhanced consumer services such as real-time energy analysis and communication of usage information. Additional benefits of fault detection and initial diagnosis can also be achieved, further optimizing the operational cost. What other benefits can you think of?
To learn more about how TI’s scalable Sitara processors are used to enable the core of energy and data management, read our data concentrator whitepaper.
Discover TI’s vision for the smart grid and energy markets in this new industrial video and read our new white paper about technologies that will allow smart cities on the grid to embrace renewable forms of energy generation.
Learn more about TI’s smart grid capabilities in these blog posts featured during #OntheGrid week:
- The power of information #onthegrid – Tools Insider
- New article explains how MCUs ease solar micro inverter design – On the Grid
- Engineering a smarter energy grid – On the Grid
- Smart grid MCU supply monitoring and dynamic voltage scaling technique – Power House
- Configurable AFEs change the future of power line communications – Analog Wire
- Stopping utility fraud and abuse with wirelessly connected smart meter monitoring – ConnecTIng Wirelessly
