Smart metering a trojan horse for utilities ?

This may be a little controversial but my sound-boarding conversations in the sector of late have led me to ask questions and draw some interesting conclusions. Where is the product development going – and indeed who is in the driving seat – and really … what are the measurables of the 10-year metering roll out plan?

Are the meter supply companies ready to meet the rapidly evolving demands of today's wireless savvy and iPod-style green consumer – will they even try or are they focused on serving only the demands of their masters in the Utilities?

Are the meters they will be supplying truly going to serve the Government purposes to educate and influence energy reduction? Are they merely being used to serve the Utilities as platforms for yet more aggressive cross-sell and up-sell opportunities – and contribute to even more consumerism that will actually negate all that energy reduction activity in the first place?

Are the Metering and Utility companies falling into the trap of "one size fits all" in terms of product development? Will Mr & Mrs Blogs in Harpenden really use their smart meter in the same way as Single Mum Jane in Brixton with 5 children under the age of 7?

Will the Utilities – in the effort to control the supply chain seek ever complex ways of controlling the data from the Smart Meters …?

Picture the future – your own smart meter – (I'd like a choice of model and functions thank you!). Something that will intelligently SMS you when the kids have left the heating on for more than 4 hours. A meter that talks to my freezer and switches it to low peak electricity. Something that automatically gets the washing machine going at 2am rather than when I go to bed and my smart meter needs to tell me how much my solar thermal panel has saved me that day and how much renewable energy I've generated … is that too much to ask do you think?

Well a cursory glance at some of the products on the market recently has led me ponder on how this sector needs to develop and cope with what seems like opposing and conflicting needs of the various stakeholders!

… ah I forgot, I'm having a flashback, it's local loop unbundling all over again, only this time the local loop unbundling goes right back to the consumer – control of their own power generation!

http://ecosearchglobal.blogspot.com/2009/06/smart-metering-trojan-horse-for.html

Smart Meter Momentum in Europe Gives Z-Wave a Running Start in the U.S.

(Marketwire - June 2, 2009)- The Z-Wave Alliance has extended its position in the rapidly growing global smart meter market. Manufacturers in Europe have recognized the considerable potential of the Z-Wave Advanced Energy Control (AEC) Framework and are using the technology for smart metering solutions, such as:

--  UK-based advanced metering equipment manufacturer, Horstmann, has
   already produced smart meters for the European market, with its H-series
   and SG-series product lines. The combination electricity and gas meters
   feature displays that provide consumers with an overview of their hourly,
   daily and monthly energy consumption. The SG-series uses GSM/GPRS to
   transmit data to the energy supplier for an improved and transparent
   billing process.
--  Kamstrup, a leading global manufacturer of system solutions for energy
    metering, plans to integrate Z-Wave technology into its metering modules
   during the second quarter of 2009, allowing the meters to transmit
   consumption data to smart energy displays, home control centers and
   utilities.
--  Danish energy supplier Modstrøem, which has been providing an
   innovative solution for reducing electricity costs since 2008, uses Z-Wave
   to provide active assistance to its customers in their efforts to reduce
   energy consumption. The savings made can then be either credited to the
   household or invested in CO2 certificates.
   

"As the building of the Advanced Metering Infrastructure in the U.S. accelerates with the availability of federal stimulus funds, Z-Wave is well positioned to play a leading role given its success overseas," said Bill Ablondi, director of Home Systems research with Parks Associates.

The Z-Wave AEC framework allows energy suppliers and smart meter manufacturers to develop an intelligent and advanced domestic energy management system that is designed to help homeowners better understand and manage their home energy use. According to a recent study from the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), fifty-six percent of consumers show interest in "smart energy meters" that provide information on optimum times to run appliances for utility bill savings. Unlike other technologies on the market, Z-Wave fulfils the requirements of energy suppliers and smart meter manufacturers while simultaneously offering affordable products to consumers that can be used to make domestic energy consumption transparent and easily manageable.

There are more than 300 Z-Wave certified products on the market, providing an end-to-end solution that allows the homeowner to manage and adjust lighting, thermostats, appliances and other devices to reduce energy consumption and spend.

"With the Obama administration calling for massive investment in and stimulus funding for energy saving technologies, smart meters are becoming more than a buzz word and Z-Wave's success in the European smart meter market with the likes of Modstrøem, Horstmann and Kamstrup gives it a significant competitive advantage as energy conservation and management takes center stage in the U.S.," stated Ken Lowe, EVP Strategy at Sigma Designs.

About Z-Wave

Z-Wave is an award-winning, proven and interoperable wireless mesh networking technology that allows a wide array of devices in and around the home to communicate including lighting, appliances, HVAC, entertainment centers and security systems. Z-Wave brings many benefits to everyday life including remote home monitoring, home healthcare, safety and security, and energy conservation. Z-Wave certified products are currently available from leading consumer brands in more than 300 products. Z-Wave is the recipient of the Wall Street Journal Technology Innovation Award in the wireless category, the CNET "Best of CES Award" in the enabling technologies category, along with PC World's World Class Award. For more information about Z-Wave, please visit www.z-wave.com.

About the Z-Wave Alliance

Formed in January 2005, the Z-Wave Alliance is a consortium of leading companies in the home technology space dedicated to solidifying Z-Wave as the standard for wireless home control products. The principal members include Cooper Wiring Devices, Danfoss, FAKRO, Ingersoll-Rand Leviton, Sigma Designs, Wayne-Dalton, and Universal Electronics Inc. (UEI). Its members lead the home controls market, providing leading edge products and systems that deliver increased comfort, convenience, energy conservation, safety and security. Z-Wave technology is the foundation of all products manufactured by the Alliance members. For more information about the Z-Wave Alliance, visit www.zwavealliance.org.

Z-Wave® is a registered trademark of Sigma Designs, Inc. and its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.

http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Z-Wave-Alliance-998230.html

Z-Wave Smart Utility Metering Application by the danish Modddtroem

Moddstroem un utilies Danois experimente differentes technologies et usages autour du compteur. Interessant !

"Modstroem, an exciting new Danish utility company, is guaranteeing its customers savings on their electricity bill with their innovative core product offering. Combining with Z-Wave based tools to monitor energy use; Modstroem can advise consumers on how to reduce their energy consumption. The savings can then be returned to the household or it can be reinvested in CO2 quotes that Modstroem buys and destroys. An ordinary household with an average consumption of 4000 kWh per year can thus save the environment at least two tons of CO2 per year. After successfully conquering the Home Control market and building up an impressive eco-system of products, Z-Wave is now equally strongly entering the utility market.

A small digital camera is mounted on the meter to read energy usage. Modstroem customers are able to view their home’s energy use on a website. Thanks to Z-Wave, the control of devices to reduce energy is possible through the same wireless technology and the same gateway that is used for the energy monitoring. Furthermore, by avoiding having to replacing the electricity meter, Modstroem enjoys a much simpler rollout and thereby enables accelerated adoption of its new service.

“With its undisputed strength in interoperability and its range of available products, Z-Wave does not only provide for the simple communication from an electricity meter to a gateway and a wireless display in the home. It also enables the control of devices in th home that actually consume the power. Especially this second aspect is essential for Modstroem’s advanced service and key to actually achieving energy reduction without compromising comfort for the consumer”, says Roar Seeger, CEO of Modstroem."

www.modstroem.dk Via http://www.automatedhome.co.uk

100 Million New Smart Meters within the Next Five Years

Driven by energy legislation, open standards, and billions in smart grid funds, 100 million new smart meters are planned to be installed worldwide within the next five years. Almost half of these will have a Home Area Network (HAN) gateway for in-home energy management programs and services.

San Diego, CA (PRWEB) June 17, 2009 -- Energy directives and billions of dollars in smart grid funding are driving hundreds of smart metering initiatives around the world. Over the next five years, $21 billion will be spent on smart metering infrastructure, according to a recent report by ON World.

"Smart grid initiatives are transforming the metering industry," says Mareca Hatler, ON World's research director. "Open architectures, increased regulation, and evolving standards are challenging the status quo and resulting in new alliances that would have been unheard of just a few years ago."

Smart grid initiatives are transforming the metering industry

Open architectures, increased regulation, and evolving standards are challenging the status quo and resulting in new alliances that would have been unheard of just a few years ago.

ON World's Benefit to Cost evaluation found that the inclusion of advanced demand response applications such as dynamic pricing can increase the benefits by at least 35%. By providing consumers with real-time energy information, they can participate in managing their own energy expenditures as well as feeding micro generated energy sources such as solar and wind back to the grid. Similar findings have led dozens of utilities in the US, Australia and Europe to include plans for demand response as part of their smart metering rollouts.

ON World has identified several technology trends that are enabling the smart grid:

Open Standards:
Metering infrastructure investment has resulted in large scale open standards efforts such as the US Smart Grid Interoperability Framework project, the European Commission's smart grid standards, and the IEEEP2030 smart grid standard.

Migration to IP
The emphasis on open architectures has resulted in Internet Protocol (IP) gaining prominence, pushed by smart grid initiatives from Cisco, GE, and Google. Duke recently announced it was working with Cisco on an end-to-end smart grid communications architecture based on IP. The latest trend is IP addressability to the endpoint, as demonstrated by Silver Spring Networks' smart meter system that is being rolled out in more than 12 million IP addressable meters in the US and Australia.

WiMAX
ON World's study found that WiMAX is a potentially disruptive technology for smart meter networks with its high scalability, large bandwidth, IP addressability and potential for service bundle opportunities. ON World's software simulations show that WiMAX is capable of providing 100% completed transmissions in large scale networks of 100,000+ nodes per base station. GE Energy's yet-to-be launched WiMAX based smart metering system is being trialed by several utilities in the US as well as Energy Australia and SPAusNet in Australia.

Home Area Networks
With accelerated deployments from the recent smart grid funding, there could be more than 100 million new smart meters installed worldwide over the next five years. Almost half of these will have a Home Area Network (HAN) gateway for in-home energy management programs and services. ON World's survey with 77 utilities in the United States found that 21% are planning a HAN gateway for every smart meter.

ZigBee Smart Energy
ZigBee, the most popular HAN technology, is currently being rolled out in over 30 million smart meters in North America and Australia. ZigBee offers robust security and low power wireless networking and its Smart Energy profile was recently selected as one of the standards to be included in the US Smart Grid Interoperability Framework.

Based on 150 interviews with utility project managers, vendors, suppliers and government agencies, this report presents the global market opportunity for smart metering. It includes five year market size forecasts, coverage of 61 companies, in-depth technology analysis, and a deployment matrix of 178 smart meter projects worldwide. For more information, go to: http://onworld.com/smartmeter

About ON World:
ON World Inc. provides world class business intelligence on Smart Technology markets. Our research reports and information services are sold to Fortune 1000 companies, startups, and investors worldwide. More information is available from http://www.onworld.com.

Media Contact:
Mary E. Purvis
ph: 858-259-2397
Email: research (at) onworld (dot) com

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/06/prweb2539644.htm

Compare ZigBee Specification Versions

Une comparaison synthétique des évolutions de Zigbee.

The ZigBee Alliance creates technology standards designed to create a thriving market for a variety of uses.

The ZigBee 1.0 specification was ratified in December 2004, and is referred to as ZigBee 2004. In December 2006, the ZigBee 2006 specification was released, which was followed in October 2007 by the ZigBee 2007/PRO specification. Each new release adds to and improves functionality provided in previous versions of the specification.

The chart below provides a high-level comparison showing the similarities and differences between the 2004, 2006, and 2007/PRO ZigBee specifications.

---

Comparison chart

		2004	2006	2007	PRO
Interference avoidance
	Network coordinator selects best available RF channel/Network ID at startup time.
	Support for ongoing interference detection under operational conditions and wholesale adoption of a new operating RF channel and/or Network ID.
Automated/distributed address management
	Device addresses automatically assigned using a hierarchical, distributed scheme.
	Device addresses automatically assigned using a stochastic scheme.
Group addressing
	Devices can be assigned to groups, and whole groups can be addressed with a single frame; thereby reducing network traffic for packets destined for groups.
Centralized data collection
	Low-overhead data collection by ZigBee Coordinator explicitly supported.
	Low-overhead data collection by other devices supported under special circumstances (e.g. with Tree Routing).
	Many-to-one routing allows the whole network to discover the aggregator in one pass.
	Source routing allows the aggregator to respond to all senders in an economical manner.
Security
	128-bit AES encryption with 32-bit Message Integrity Code (MIC) and frame counters to assure message freshness.
	Security applied at the NWK layer by default, with key rotation to prevent hacking of the NWK key.
	Higher-layer security supported.
	Trust Center application, operating on the ZigBee Coordinator, manages trust on behalf of network devices and acts as the central authority on what devices can join the network.
	Trust Center can run on any device in the network.
	"High Security" mode available, which is selectable by Trust Center policy, and requires Application Layer Link keys; peer-entity authentication; and peer-to-peer key establishment using Master Keys.
Network scalability
	Network scales up to the limits of the addressing algorithm. Typically, networks with tens to hundreds of devices are supported.
	An addressing algorithm that relaxes the limits on network size. Networks with hundreds to thousands of devices are supported.
Message size
	< 100 bytes. Exact size depends on services employed, such as security.
	Large messages, up to the buffer capacity of the sending and receiving devices, are supported using Fragmentation and Reassembly.
Standardized commissioning
	Standardized startup procedure and attributes support the use of commissioning tools in a multi-vendor environment.
Robust mesh networking
	Fault tolerant routing algorithms respond to changes in the network and in the RF environment.
	Every device keeps track of its "neighborhood"; thereby further improving reliability and robustness.
Cluster Library support
	The ZigBee Cluster Library, as an adjunct to the stack, standardizes application behavior across profiles and provides an invaluable resource for profile developers.

Backward compatibility

ZigBee 2007/PRO

• Backward compatibility with ZigBee 2006 required.
  
• Backward compatibility with ZigBee 2004 not required.
  

ZigBee 2006

• Backward compatibility with ZigBee 2004 not required.
  

ZigBee 2004

Original ZigBee version.

Source:
http://www.daintree.net/resources/spec-matrix.php
via http://twitter.com/DaintreeNet/status/2198379161