Will smart meters improve the UK's grid?

In future, smart meters similar to these will assist in better optimising the country’s grid. (Photo by Justin Tallis/AFP) The UK Government recently announced around $246,311 (£200,000) in funding for five projects that aim to bring smart technology to energy monitoring and management.

How do Smart Meter Gateways work?

This process accesses the smart meter system as an “other user,” an authorised party other than an energy supplier. Further efforts seek new cloud-connected secure smart meter gateway devices, that access real-time energy data from smart meters and send that data to a designated cloud service.

What makes a smart grid successful?

Successful implementation of smart grids nationwide will require strategic partnerships, creative collaboration, and increased investment focused on renewable energy, innovative energy storage solutions, decentralisation of energy systems, digitisation, and regulatory support.

Can smart meters drive a responsive energy revolution?

Teams from the University of Exeter, the University of Salford and Green Energy Options, alongside joint ventures including N3rgy Data and Octopus will develop the projects, which will demonstrate the feasibility and trial the efficacy of smart meters, which rely on IoT processes to drive the responsive energy revolution.

What is the UK smart grid?

Ofgem (the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets) and the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) set the vision for the UK smart grid and proposed a phased approach for what we need to make it happen: Approximately 53 million smart gas and electricity meters must be deployed in homes across the UK.

What is IoT in UK smart grids?

IoT in UK smart grids consists of meters (to measure energy consumption in real-time), sensors (to monitor the condition of grid infrastructure), communications networks, and data analytics platforms ( to exchange information between devices and central control systems).