Ami Smart Energy

8/6/2019 Ami Smart Energy

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Going Green with AMI and ZigBee Smart Energy

AbstractThis paper provides an overview of AMI (AdvancedMetering Infrastructure), including the cost savingsand environmental benefits it can provide. It thenlooks at how ZigBee fits into this picture, and theways in which ZigBee (together with its Smart Energyapplication profile) is ideally suited for thedevelopment, delivery and on-going support of AMIsolutions.

Introduction

Utility companies are under pressure. Growingpopulations are using increasing amounts of power,which is putting a strain on existing supplies. In manycountries (including the US) the increase in demandis growing at a faster rate than transmission capacity.And the cost of providing power is also increasingdue to higher fuel prices and increases in the cost of construction and capital expenses.

To make things even more challenging, governmentsaround the world are introducing new regulationsand guidelines to reduce emissions. And many

countries have deregulated the energy sector inrecent years, which has led to greater competitionalong with consumer demand for more control overpower usage and costs.

This has forced utilities to rethink traditional supplyand billing practices.

AMI puts more control into the hands of both utilitiesand consumers by giving them more detailedinformation about consumption. This allows utilitiesto better regulate supply and to refine their pricingstructure based on demand cycles. It also gives

consumers immediate feedback about their usage,allowing them to reduce consumption by turning off things they don’t need and switching others over tonon-peak demand times when prices are lower.

Initial trials of AMI in North America and Europeshow decreases in power usage, which has the dualbenefit of saving consumers money while helpingutilities to better manage supply during peak periods.Lower energy use during peak times also means less

need for new generating stations, which is one of theeasiest and least expensive ways for utilities toreduce emissions.

But that’s not all AMI can do, especially when it isimplemented and managed using ZigBee.

What are smart meters?

AMI starts with smart meters(electricity, gas and water), whichprovide many benefits overtraditional meters:

• Detailed energy usage data iscollected continuously atregular intervals (for example, every 30 minutes),which provides a good level of granularity. Theadditional details collected provide utilities withgreater control over load management, andallows consumers to adjust their usage to reducecosts.

• Smart meters can be read remotely via anautomated process, with usage data sent to theutility’s management and billing system. (This is

referred to as Automated Meter Reading orAMR.)

• Two-way communication is available betweenthe meter and utility, and between the meterand consumer. This means that in addition toproviding readings, the meter can also receive(and act on) instructions sent from the utility orconsumer.

• AMI smart meters can be integrated with home,building and industrial automation systems,allowing consumers to both monitor and

manage usage remotely (for example, to turn theheater down a few degrees or turn off anappliance).

• AMI smart meters can be used to notify utilitiesor consumers of malfunctions or potentialproblems, such as leaks detected in a watermeter or tampering detected in an electricmeter. They are also able to fix some problems




remotely, for example disconnecting supply in apotentially dangerous situation.

Smart meters help to provide a complete picture of current energy and resource usage, which utilitiescan then apply to improve reliability and efficiency,

pinpoint energy loss caused by faults (or tampering),expand consumer choices, and create new rates andprograms.

How does AMI work?

AMI starts with Automated Meter Reading (AMR).

1 Smart meters automatically send their data toa local collection point (either directly or usinga mesh network).

2 Local collection points forward the meter data

to a central collection point.

3 AMI kicks in when data reaches the centralcollection point, using powerful software toprocess the meter readings, manage supply anddemand, and keep consumers happy.

One of the key differences between AMR and AMI iswhat the utilities do with information after it arrives.In its most simplistic form,

• AMR uses the information to bill consumers,passing on cost savings achieved throughautomation.

• AMI uses the information to improve reliabilityand efficiency, detect faults (and remotely repairthem where possible), create new rates andprograms (such as time-based pricing), empowerconsumers through informed energy usage

choices, and comply with governmentregulations. Oh, and also to bill consumers,passing on cost savings achieved through all of the above.

AMI utilities provide consumers with easy access totheir usage and cost information, typically throughdedicated monitoring hardware or by providinginformation over the Internet. This shows at a glancehow much power is being consumed moment-to-moment and in total, allowing consumers to makeinformed choices about usage and associated costs:

• Utilities typically provide a number of pricingprograms aimed at helping consumers reducecosts by using energy more efficiently (forexample, at times when demand is lower).

• During emergencies or unexpected peak eventsutilities can immediately inform consumersabout the situation and recommend actions theyshould take. In some instances, AMI is able toremotely adjust consumer usage (such as turningoff air conditioning) to ensure power cancontinue to be delivered where it is neededmost.

The two-way communication available through theAMI smart meters gives both utilities and consumersthe ability to adjust and control usage remotely.Appliances and services that are compatible with thesmart meters can form and be managed as a totalintegrated system.

AMI and smart homes

AMI becomes really powerful when teamed with abuilding automation system, such as a Home Area

Network or HAN.As the name implies, a HAN is a network within thehome that enables communication between “smart”devices including HVAC, security, lighting, andappliances. The ability to remotely control deviceswithin the HAN (such as adjusting a thermostat orturning off lights) can be made available to bothconsumers and utilities. This helps consumers to

Daintree Networks, 2008 2




better manage consumption and cost, and utilities tobetter manage supply and demand, and to reactquickly during emergencies.

A HAN typically provides the following:

• Secure 2-way communication between the AMINetwork and the HAN

• Load control integration (for example,distributed resource dispatch/control/relaying)

• Direct access to usage and other meter data(such as kWHr, KW, Voltage)

• A platform for future customer-owned productsthat leverage meter data and utility/gridinformation

• Three types of communications: public pricesignaling, consumer-specific signaling, andcontrol signaling

• Communications to other HAN devices withmetering capability (for example gas and watermeter communication, EV and PV sub-metering)

• The AMI network interface to HAN interface isbased on open standards

• Implementation is appropriate given the highvalue and relative low cost

• Potential technology obsolescence is low due tomultiple bridging options

Once installed, the HAN offers the opportunity toleverage to other applications within the home byintegrating suitable devices and application software.

Benefits of AMI

AMI provides benefits for utilities, consumers and theenvironment.

Even though AMI solutions are currently moreexpensive to implement up-front than AMR ortraditional meters, the long-term benefits greatlyoutweigh any short-term pain:

• Utilities are able to track peak usage times (anddays), which provides them with the ability tooffer consumers greater range of rates andprograms, such as time-based pricing.

• Demand response can enable utilities to keepprices low by reducing demand when wholesaleprices are high. In recent trials, this has beenshown to provide significant savings to allconsumers, not just those who adjust theirusage habits.

• Utilities can post meter readings daily (or atmore regular intervals) for consumers to view,which enables consumers to track and modifytheir energy usage. This provides more timelyand immediate feedback than traditionalmonthly or quarterly statements.

• Utilities can not only notify consumers of peakdemand times, but also monitor the extent towhich those notifications cause consumers tochange their habits and reduce their load duringthese periods.

• Utilities and consumers both benefit from moreaccurate billing that is available thanks to theincreased granularity of usage information, forexample, for individual floors, apartments, oroffices within a building. This gives consumersbetter control of their power and water usage,and passes on the biggest savings to those whouse these services most efficiently. It also helps





to reduce the number of billing enquiries, andhelps to make those enquiries easier to resolve.

• On-demand meter reading and remotetroubleshooting allow utilities to provide betterand more timely consumer support. Utilities

have more information at hand about outagesand restorations, and are able to provideconsumers with good information about whenpower will be restored.

• During emergencies, utilities can create “partialoutages” in non-exempt buildings to ensure thatpower remains available where it is mostneeded. Partial outages are more economicallyefficient than full rotating outages, because theeffects are limited to the reduction of a singlediscretionary service such as air conditioning

rather than the elimination of all services.

AMI and the environment

AMI empowers consumers to take more control of their usage by providing them with detailedinformation about their current habits, and showingthe savings they can make by changing those habits.

It doesn’t matter whether consumers change thosehabits to save money or save the planet, the result isthe same: the less power they use, the less powerneeds to be generated.

“The golden rule about energy and the environment[is] it’s the energy you do not consume that is thebest investment you can make,” said Quebec premierJean Charest.

The ability to better manage supply and demand, andultimately not need to build as many new powerstations will not only go a long way towards reducingemissions, it will also help utilities to satisfy new“green” legislation.

The same is true for other services such as water. The

less water people use, the better utilities can managesupply, and the fewer new dams and treatment plantsneed to be built.

AMI not only helps to make being green and efficientmore profitable, it also helps utilities and societybetter prepare for a sustainable future.

AMI and ZigBee

AMI encompasses many services and applianceswithin the home and workplace, all of which need tobe able to communicate with one another. Therefore,

open standards architecture is essential.Open standards provide true interoperability betweensystems, flexible communications choices, andcompetition and innovation from third-partytechnology providers for applications not currentlyenvisioned.

In countries where consumers are able to switchbetween energy providers, having a commoninfrastructure helps to avoid waste, createefficiencies, lower consumer costs, and ensurecompetition.

Having open standards also ensures that utilities canchoose the best-in-class vendor for all types of AMIcomponents—from the meter itself, to software,smart appliances, and in-home displays—and have allcomponents work together.

Open standards also help to future-proof investmentsmade by both utilities and consumers. If communication network pricing or technologychange, the AMI components can easily switch to anew network, as long as it supports the openstandards used for communications.

Using an open protocol typically reduces costs inimplementing: there are no interoperability problemsto solve, and manufacture costs tend to be lower.

At least one public utility authority says that it wouldbe in the best interest of promoting energy efficiencyif there was just one common protocol. The TexasPUC says that a single standard to communicate withdevices in a home area network is advisable, andsuggests non-proprietary ones such as ZigBee.Leading utilities in California and Texas are alsochampioning ZigBee.

ZigBee was developed by the ZigBee Alliance, aworld-wide industry working group that developedstandardized application software on top of the IEEE802.15.4 wireless standard.

ZigBee is designed specifically for monitoring andcontrol of appliances and applications that exist inour daily lives. The monitoring devices need to be





ZigBee application profiles are designed to provideseamless integration within the network, so that theSmart Energy profile can be used with ZigBee’s otherpublic application profiles, which include HomeAutomation, Commercial Building Automation and

Industrial Automation. This provides a singleintegrated solution for controlling energy demandand supply both at home and in the workplace.

able to communicate with each other quickly andrequire little maintenance.

Its low power usage makes ZigBee ideal for AMI.Batteries in devices will last for years rather than justthe days or hours achieved using some other

standards-based technologies.

ZigBee is designed to be easy to incorporate into awide range of devices, which makes it ideal for asystem that includes smart meters, HANs, andpotentially other components into the future.

Summary

The challenges and “green” legislation that utilitiesare facing today, combined with increased demandfrom consumers for more flexible offerings and costsavings, make a solution like AMI both timely andinevitable.

ZigBee also provides strong security capabilities toprevent mischief, and is extremely tolerant of interference from other radio devices, including Wi-Fiand Bluetooth.

ZigBee-enabled meters form a complete mesh

network so they can communicate with each otherand route data reliably. And the ZigBee network canbe easily expanded as new homes are built or newservices need to be added.

Implementing AMI with an open standard such as

ZigBee helps to keep costs down, ensureinteroperability, and future-proof investments madeby both utilities and consumers.

The information collected through AMI providesunprecedented insight into energy demand andusage, allowing utilities and consumers alike to dotheir part to ensure continued and affordable supplyof essential services into the future.

The ZigBee Alliance has recently announced its“Smart Energy” public application profile (January2008). ZigBee Smart Energy offers utility companies aglobal open standard for implementing secure, easy-to-use wireless home area networks for managingenergy. The profile also offers product manufacturersaccess to a burgeoning green marketplace byestablishing a standards-based technology for new

products designed to enhance energy managementand efficiency by consumers everywhere.

You can find out more about ZigBee and the SmartEnergy application profile on the ZigBee web site atwww.zigbee.org.


http://www.zigbee.org/

http://www.zigbee.org/




About Daintree Networks

Based in Fremont, California, Daintree Networks is a leading provider of design verification and operationalsupport tools for wireless sensor and control networks. In a rapidly evolving industry, accelerated developmentand deployment cycles are key to market success. Our professional tools help OEMs, system integrators, andinstallers of wireless sensor and control networks speed their time to market. As an active member of the ZigBeeAlliance, Daintree is playing a vital role in bringing the first wave of interoperable standards-based sensing andcontrol products market.

Daintree’s Sensor Network Analyzer family of products comprise the industry’s most comprehensive solution forIEEE 802.15.4 and ZigBee development and deployment. For more information, visit www.daintree.net or [email protected]

Copyright© Daintree Networks, 2004–2008January 2008

ZigBee is a registered trademark of the ZigBee Alliance.

802.15.4 is a trademark of the Institute of Electrical andElectronics Engineers (IEEE)

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