The document discusses smart meter deployment in the UK and considerations for choosing smart meters. It notes that UK smart meter deployment has started and outlines minimum functionality standards. It emphasizes total installation costs and future-proofing meters for evolving markets. The document predicts small design choices will greatly impact installation and unknown future applications for home and grid management. Third party application development is also expected to increase.

1. © Sentec 2012
© Sentec 2007 MAKING A ENERGY OF DIFFERENCE
SMART WORLD TECHNOLOGIES
Smart meter functionality – for today
and the future
4th Annual Smart Grids & Cleanpower 2012 Conference
14th June 2012 Cambridge
www.cir-strategy.com/events
SLIDE 1

2. Overview
© Sentec 2012 SMART ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES
• UK smart meter deployment is starting now
• SMETS 1 published in April
– Smart Metering Equipment Technical
Specifications
– Defines minimum functionality for meters and
displays
• Key design considerations beyond SMETS
– Total cost to install, not just asset cost
– Communications performance
– Future-proofing the hardware
– Models for meter firmware and applications
SLIDE 2

3. UK status June 2012
© Sentec 2012 SMART ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES
SLIDE 3

4. Issues in deployment and commissioning
© Sentec 2012 SMART ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES
• Initiating a new positive relationship with
customer
– Trouble-free on-time high-quality process
– Belief of installation team that it is a good system
• Consider total cost of (hardware + installation)
– More expensive hardware could improve
installation
• Less time on site
• Lower risk of a failed installation and subsequent
revisit
• Installation efficiencies make material cost savings
– 10% saving in install time = £157m saving for the
UK rollout
• Based on April 2012 Impact Assessment costs
SLIDE 4

5. WAN and HAN performance
© Sentec 2012 SMART ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES
• Strongly influenced by property characteristics
– Location (overall WAN coverage)
– Meter location (indoor, meter box, semi-concealed)
• Distance between gas and electric meter
– Construction materials (timber, brick, stone etc)
– Type of dwelling (apartment, detached property etc)
• Minimise chance of failed installation
– Collect information on the meter locations and
properties
– Use coverage maps for WAN
– Provide tools, feedback and alternate options for
installer
SLIDE 5

6. Beyond installation – future proofing
© Sentec 2012 SMART ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES
• Challenge of rapidly evolving markets for a long lifetime
asset
– Maintaining functionality
– Predicting total cost of ownership and ROI
• International experience – it isn’t easy!
– Italy
– Australia/New Zealand
– Sweden
• But it is possible
– E.g. In-field upgrade of FlexNet meters in USA
SLIDE 6

7. Choosing the right smart meter
© Sentec 2012 SMART ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES
• Traditional • Additional Smart specs
– Hardware cost – Which processor
– Performance stability – How much memory
– Reliability – Which OS
– Day 1 functionality – WAN hardware capability
• Standards – HAN hardware capability
• Protocols
– Metrology capability
• Compatibility
– User interface capability
Consumer analogy: – Upgrade processes
Consumer analogy:
buying a mobile – Ease of configuration
buying a Smart
phone, 10 years ago Phone today
SLIDE 7

8. Requirements trends to consider
© Sentec 2012 SMART ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES
• Core functionality
– Increasing complexity of Time of Use
– Credit, Prepayment and PAYG operation
– Increasing resolution of load profiling
– User interface with smart meter system
• Future applications
– EVs
– HEMS
– Microgeneration
– Demand response appliances
SLIDE 8

9. Recent history in smart meter evolution
© Sentec 2012 SMART ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES
• Code growth 1000
Code growth in US market from 2002
• Non volatile storage 100
Code size (kB)
– Even faster than code size
10
• Increasing frequency of communications
– From monthly to hourly 1
2001 2002 2004 2005 2006 2008 2009 2010 2012 2013
• Increasing communications bandwidth
– Larger volumes of data
• Security requirements
– Increasingly heavyweight
SLIDE 9

10. Writing meter firmware applications
© Sentec 2012 SMART ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES
• Traditional • Smart
– Meter vendor writes – Meter vendor provides
firmware core OS
• Using subcontractors • Including core metrology
• Licensing in stacks etc • Including hardware drivers
– No third party access – Applications for everything
• Code is proprietary else
• Code often monolithic • Third parties can develop
• Security issues • Defined interfaces
– Slow code evolution • Independently installable
• Limited set of resources – Meter vendor certifies
• Limited customisation per
customer
SLIDE 10

11. Predictions
© Sentec 2012 SMART ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES
• Small choices in design will have BIG
impact on installation
• Expect unknown applications – for home
and grid management
• Expect third party app development
(already happening in US – ‘Green
Button’ initiative)
SLIDE 11

12. For further information
© Sentec 2012 SMART ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES
Dr Mark England
CEO, Sentec Ltd
Mark.England@sentec.co.uk
Office UK: +44 1223 303800
www.sentec.co.uk
http://sentec.co.uk/case-studies/connect-and-disconnect-smart-meter
http://sentec.co.uk/case-studies/icon
http://sentec.co.uk/case-studies/energy-control
SLIDE 12