Power transmission towers with red glowing wires against a blue sky

Smart energy management

Smart energy management is revolutionising the way energy is used and managed. Cutting-edge IoT technologies monitor, analyse and optimise the flow of energy in real time. The seamless integration of intelligent sensors, actuators and control systems enables precise control of energy consumption.

In buildings and industrial applications, these technologies minimise energy losses, reduce costs and improve the environmental balance, thus contributing to a more efficient and sustainable energy supply.

IoT integration of energy meters

STEINEL Solutions has integrated electricity meters from a well-known manufacturer into the IoT world. A LoRa module for the new generation of products was developed in a development project. In addition to providing advice and development services, STEINEL Solutions also provided support with product approval and manufactures the modules.

In this project, the application software for visualising the data in the cloud was deliberately provided by the customer, but it could also be implemented by STEINEL Solutions.

Energy efficiency and electricity savings

In the future, it should be possible to read energy meters remotely at any time. Today's mechanical electricity meters in households are increasingly being replaced by smart meters.

Technology decision

The choice of LoRa as the communication technology is no coincidence. LoRa technology extends the reachability of the meters without their own infrastructure, thus providing enormous customer benefit.

IoT system

The electricity meter collects values for voltage, energy, current, frequency, etc. in the internal logbook (on the respective phases or in total). The module polls this data via an internal interface and sends it via LoRa to a LoRa application server.

What can the LoRa radio module do?

The installation situation of an electricity meter in metallic electrical cabinets in basements, garages or service rooms is often not optimal for transmitting data by radio to a public communication network. LoRa offers the optimal technology for this application through the sub-GHz band and chirp spread spectrum (CSS). In addition, the LoRa network can be easily and cost-effectively expanded through additional gateways.

Schematic representation of the transmission of smart meters via LoRa WAN to the gateway, which in turn transmits data to the application software via the application server

To ensure a stable and high-performance connection to the LoRa gateway, the LoRa interface continuously adapts the optimal transmission and reception parameters. The LoRa module can be installed in existing energy meters. It transmits the signals without noticeable loss from the confined space inside the meter.

A special feature of the solution is certainly the antenna design of STEINEL Solutions. This makes it possible to connect an additional external antenna alongside the internal antenna, which is why it can switch between external and internal antennas in the firmware.

Highlights
✓ Data transmission over long distances
✓ Stable connection
✓ Transmission from areas without permanent radio network coverage
✓ Extended accessibility

«The targeted use of IoT technologies in energy management enables efficient monitoring, control and optimisation of energy consumption, thus saving valuable resources. We support our customers with our expertise in the seamless integration of sensor technology and communication solutions, developing future-proof and sustainable solutions for building management.»

Florian Blöchlinger, Head of Sales at STEINEL Solutions AG

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