Smart meters become mandatory
Meter systems are getting smart! Since the end of 2021, the gradual introduction of remotely readable and interoperable metering systems came into force with the renewal of the Heating Costs Ordinance (HKVO). Accordingly, conventional metering systems must be replaced by remotely readable, interoperable and smart meter gateway-compatible metering systems by 2026. Both residential and non-residential buildings are affected by the rule.
What are smart meters?
Smart meters are intelligent metering systems consisting of a digital gas, water or electricity meter and a communication module, the smart meter gateway. In many cases, they replace classic analog meters. Smart meters are capable of bidirectional communication, which means that they can communicate information, and they can also receive and process data. The digitization of consumption data has a decisive advantage: it is no longer necessary to read the metering equipment on site. Instead, they can be sent in encrypted form via the smart meter gateway to the electricity provider, metering point operator or building operator. In addition, the smart meter gateway can communicate with and control in-building energy consumers and generators.
Intelligent power supply through smart meters
But why should smart meters communicate with building technology? Smart metering enables intelligent control of electricity consumption. This is useful, for example, to utilize the power of a building’s own electricity production. For example, a heat pump or charging station can be supplied with cheap electricity from a photovoltaic system when a lot of electricity is being produced at the time. This makes smart meters an integral part of building automation.
Another possible use of smart meters will play a major role in the future. The expansion of renewable energies is progressing and by 2030 the share of electricity generation is expected to reach 80%. Due to the fluctuating availability of renewable energies such as solar and wind power, there will be more and more dynamic electricity tariffs in the future. The price of electricity fluctuates during the course of the day and is based on current feed-in and demand. Smart meters can supply flexible electricity consumers with electricity when the price is particularly favorable. They are thus part of the so-called smart grid, the intelligent control of generation, storage and consumption in the power grid.
Smart meters as part of a smart building
Smart buildings refer to the internal networking and intelligent control of building technology. As part of this, smart metering can increase transparency about consumption in the various sectors. Via an Internet-of-Things platform, building operators can view their consumption data at any time and have it visualized. In this way, irregularities can be detected and potential for increasing energy efficiency can be identified. In addition, responsible parties can have reports created and sent via the IoT platform and thus conveniently fulfill their reporting obligations. With the pro.Building Suite, we offer a fully comprehensive IoT solution that allows you to keep an eye on your consumption at all times.
Advantages of smart meters
Our vendor-neutral IoT platform
In the IoT platform pro.Building Suite, all collected consumption data is processed and visualized for the end user in practical dashboards. Both facility managers and building users can thus access individual consumption data via standard browser or app and become aware of their energy consumption. Due to the simply structured dashboards, even non-technicians can view current consumption and compare it in relation to the previous month, the previous year or even the normalized average consumer.
Benefit from advantages
The great advantage of our IoT platform: The meter and building structure are digitally mapped 1:1 and lay the foundation for the digital building twin. In this way, the multitude of measuring systems and sensors is recorded clearly and comprehensibly for everyone and presented transparently for facility management and technical building management. Open interfaces can be used, for example, to import historical data or to make the building/energy data available to another system (e.g. billing systems).
In addition to energy data, the DEOS IoT platform also records other building data such as temperatures, humidity, CO2 content or operating information of the TGA systems. When combined with an existing building automation system, the IoT platform provides advanced capabilities to improve facility service and building comfort. Our high standards for data protection, data security and interoperability round off the DEOS smart metering solution.
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