Smart meter functionality for today and for the future

© Sentec 2007 MAKING A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE

© Sentec 2012 SMART ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES

Smart meter functionality – for today and the future

IET Smart Metering Conference17 April 2012

SLIDE 1


UK status April 2012

SLIDE 2


SMETS

• Published 5th April 2012– Notified to European Commission

• Provides sufficient confidence– For manufacturers to design

against– For energy suppliers to install

• First step to Smart Change of Supplier

• Few if any existing compliant Smart Metering System designs ?

SLIDE 3


Issues in deployment and commissioning

• 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


War stories from meter installers

SLIDE 5

Restarting gas appliances after interruption of supply

‘I had many occasions where pilots wouldn't relight (faulty piezo or thermocouple) and was told by the utility not to work on the appliance in any way. The fault was classed as existing, which technically it was, but try explaining that to a vunerable customer on a cold day. I had to say not my fault, call a gsr plumber.’Time taken in like for like replacement

‘dont forget most people think you will be there for half a day so make sure you say if you can take a quick look then you can let them know how long it will take ! most are shocked its only say 5mins power off and 15mins max unless tails need updating (25mm) so 30 mins max and your be on your way ! ’ Issues with first generation SEDs

‘The Ecometer only comes with a Eon booklet that tells me how to use it and the first bit of the manual says "...... Our Smart Meter Installer will have set up your SED aand linked it to your smart meters, so your ready to go" But I am pretty sure he hasn't done that at all as my ecoMeter just says "this function is not currently enabled" and from the Menu/System Info there are no meter serial number listed..’

Actual [anonymised] installer feedback (including typos)


Installations

SLIDE 6


Potential problems ...

SLIDE 7


WAN and HAN performance

• 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 8


The impact of meter design on total cost

SLIDE 9

INSTALL PROCESSDESIGN METER DESIGN

INSTALL PROJECTRevisit rates

METERS IN FIELD Reliability

rates

Speed

Meter hardware costs

Install costs

OPEX


Beyond installation – future proofing

• 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 10


Choosing the right smart meter

• Traditional – Hardware cost– Performance stability– Reliability– Day 1 functionality

• Standards• Protocols• Compatibility

• Additional Smart specs– Which processor– How much memory– Which OS– WAN hardware

capability– HAN hardware

capability– Metrology capability– User interface

capability– Upgrade processes– Ease of configuration

SLIDE 11


Requirements trends to consider

• Time of Use with increasing complexity– Multiple tiers– Daily TOU profiles– Consumption thresholds– Energy prices stored in the meter

• Credit, Prepayment and PAYG operation– Prepay and PAYG require local user interface

• As backup to WAN and for safe re-connection

• Load profiling with increasing resolution– For in-home display– For consumption analysis

SLIDE 12


Future requirements to consider

• New devices interfacing with SMS– EVs– HEMS– Microgeneration– Demand response appliances

SLIDE 13

We can’t predict

every new

application today


Recent history in smart meter evolution

• Code growth

• Non volatile storage– Even faster than code size

• Increasing frequency of communications– From monthly to hourly

• Increasing communications bandwidth– Larger volumes of data

• Security requirements – an unknown component, potentially heavy

SLIDE 14

1

10

100

1000

2001 2002 2004 2005 2006 2008 2009 2010 2012 2013

Code

size

(kB

)

Code growth in US market from 2002


Maximising a meter’s useful life

• Consider every aspect of the design– Processor, flash– Operating system capability– WAN/HAN capability– Metrology– Disconnect– Product operating modes– Supply chain and manufacturability

• Choose architecture that permits design re-use– Structured firmware, standard internal

interfacesSLIDE 15


Processor and memory

• 32-bit architecture– 8 and 16 bit processors are obsolete

• Limited linear address space – 64k• Often lacking e.g. MPU, VIC, AES, DMA

– Compression and encryption must be supportable

• External flash memory– Sufficient for multiple code images– Sufficient for deep profiles and logs– Sufficient to store advanced configurations– Running a flash filing system for maximum

flexibilitySLIDE 16


WAN/HAN communications

• Define as much upgradable firmware as possible– Protocol– Modulation– Security

• Ensure hardware can support known evolution path– Sufficient resources for updated stacks– E.g. ZigBee SEP 2.0

• Consider secure binding to evolving IHD– IHD lifetime is likely to be less than meter

lifetime

SLIDE 17


Reconfigurable core elements of meter

• Metrology– Ensure metrology can measure wide range of

parameters• Even if they are not part of today’s tariffs

– Ensure it is accurate and stable beyond current standards• E.g. ability to measure standby powers• E.g. power quality analysis

• Disconnect– Allow multiple methods to control

• Credit default• Current and power limits

SLIDE 18


Firmware architecture

• Too large and complex for monolithic code– Meters are now more complex than early PC’s

• And include multiple processors for different functions

– Need the ability to patch and selectively upgrade• Remotely in the field

– Must be able to update all the processors• And robustly roll back to factory versions

• Embedded operating system approach is needed– Many examples from consumer world– Many choices of OS for electric meters– Ability to lock and protect core parts is important

SLIDE 19


Firmware functionality

• Traditional– Meter vendor writes

firmware• Using subcontractors• Licensing in stacks etc

– No third party access• Code is proprietary • Code often monolithic• Security issues

– Slow code evolution• Limited set of resources• Limited customisation

per customer

• Smart– Meter vendor provides

core OS• Including core

metrology• Including hardware

drivers

– Applications for everything else• Third parties can

develop• Defined interfaces• Independently

installable• Meter vendor certifiesSLIDE 20


Customising and future proofing

• Who writes the upgrades ?– E.g. streamlining the install process– E.g. Adding support for smart

appliances

• Managing the code and building a community– Certification – Security– Safety

SLIDE 21

Traditional Smart

Meter Vendors Meter VendorsSystems IntegratorsDevice suppliersEnergy supplier team

Third party application suppliers


A winning deployment

• Installation process feeds into the meter design– Small choices in design = BIG impact on

installation

• Future proofing isn’t impossible:– Select products based on capability– Consider firmware evolution path– Learn from requirements trends– Avoid early obsolescence– Be prepared for evolution of supply chain

Smart meters can have an asset life of 20 years !

SLIDE 22


For further information

Dr Mark EnglandCEO, Sentec Ltd

[email protected] UK: +44 1223 303800

www.sentec.co.uk

http://sentec.co.uk/case-studies/connect-and-disconnect-smart-meterhttp://sentec.co.uk/case-studies/icon

http://sentec.co.uk/case-studies/energy-control

SLIDE 23

mailto:[email protected]

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http://sentec.co.uk/case-studies/

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Smart meter functionality for today and for the future

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