Next-gen 1MHz smart meter in development
Image: Sense
Sense and Xylem’s Sensus team are collaborating on what is expected to be the first electricity meter capable of capturing and processing 1MHz data in North America.
The collaboration is combining Sense’s real-time edge intelligence software in the Sensus electric meter.
With the increase in fidelity to 1MHz sampling, Sense should be able to detect and locate anomalies on the grid, especially those near the home where operators have traditionally lacked visibility.
With this utilities should be aided in improving grid reliability against a background of increasing risk of extreme weather events, rapid electrification, more intermittent renewables and integration of distributed energy resources.
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They also should be enabled to maximise grid-enhancing technology investments.
“Our collaboration is a winning combination for electric utilities and their customers,” said Derl Rhoades, Director of Electric Metrology for Xylem’s Sensus team.
“The 1MHz samples will aid utilities in dynamic grid operations and innovative rate creation, all while providing their customers with the ability to manage their home energy costs.”
Mike Phillips, CEO of Sense, adds that the lesson that keeps being learned is that with more data a new generation of capabilities is enabled – in this case the next level of real-time intelligence needed to manage an increasingly complex grid.
“By sampling at 1MHz and using edge computing, we are able to process almost one billion times the amount of data currently available in the 15-minute interval data from first-generation smart meters.”
With embedded edge intelligence as updatable software, the core components of the energy infrastructure should be adaptable over time and connect to the evolving set of smart devices that consumers are adopting without replacing hardware.
As such the approach should allow systems to address increasing amounts of electrification in the home while increasing the reliability of the grid.
